In his final regular speech ahead of the upcoming policy meeting, BOJ Governor UEDA said the bank must continue raising rates as warranted by economic and inflation developments. He said that if the BOJ judges its baseline — easing Middle East tensions, moderate growth and underlying inflation gradually returning toward about 2% — becomes more likely, it will raise the policy rate at an appropriate pace; his wording implies a likely hike this month but was less explicit than during the prior two

In his final regular speech ahead of the upcoming policy meeting, BOJ Governor UEDA said the bank must continue raising rates as warranted by economic and inflation developments. He said that if the BOJ judges its baseline — easing Middle East tensions, moderate growth and underlying inflation gradually returning toward about 2% — becomes more likely, it will raise the policy rate at an appropriate pace; his wording implies a likely hike this month but was less explicit than during the prior two moves, signalling a preference for flexibility amid Middle East uncertainty and public comments on policy by Prime Minister TAKAICHI.