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 y

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.