As widely expected, the Bank of Japan left its policy rate unchanged at 1.25% in October, keeping the door open to further increases in coming months. The BOJ was the last of three major central banks this week to pause; the Federal Reserve and ECB also held after the three jointly raised rates last month. Consecutive BOJ hikes are unprecedented this century and could stoke market volatility; Japan's benchmark rate is at a 31-year high but remains below other G7 peers. Investors are focused on G

As widely expected, the Bank of Japan left its policy rate unchanged at 1.25% in October, keeping the door open to further increases in coming months. The BOJ was the last of three major central banks this week to pause; the Federal Reserve and ECB also held after the three jointly raised rates last month. Consecutive BOJ hikes are unprecedented this century and could stoke market volatility; Japan's benchmark rate is at a 31-year high but remains below other G7 peers. Investors are focused on Governor Ueda's press conference at about 15:30 JST for signals on a possible December hike and the likely terminal level of the tightening cycle.