Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Uchida said the reduction in downside risks to the economy is the biggest difference from the previous meeting.

UK Chancellor Reeves said the government is committed to reducing government borrowing.

Intouch Asia FX head Kieran Williams said the Bank of Japan's rate rise was fully priced and markets are focused on accompanying measures. The BOJ's statement was broadly dovish: it plans to pause reducing JGB purchases from April 2027, a concession to the bond market that contradicts earlier warnings that core CPI could exceed 2%. Williams said the policy path now depends on developments in the Middle East and oil-price pass-through; a large yield differential with the US will likely keep the yen weak. In the medium-to-long term, this step is unlikely to relieve yen pressure, so intervention remains a real near-term risk. Deputy governor Uchida's press conference is a key variable; with Governor Ueda absent, markets will watch how he defines the timing and pace of the next hike.