Author: Leica Kihara
YOKOHAMA (Reuters) – The Bank of Japan will discuss whether to raise interest rates at its policy meeting next week based on its new quarterly growth and inflation forecasts, Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino said on Tuesday.
Speaking to business leaders in the city of Yokohama, Himino said various surveys and reports from the central bank’s regional branches had boosted hopes that wage growth would remain strong this year.
He also said the U.S. economy is likely to remain strong for now, and the “broad direction” of U.S. economic policy is likely to become clear in President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural address on Jan. 20.
“The board will discuss whether to raise interest rates next week and make a decision based on the economic and price projections presented in our quarterly outlook report,” Himino said.
The BOJ will conclude a two-day policy meeting on January 24 and release an outlook report with fresh quarterly growth and inflation forecasts.
