The Bank of Japan may raise its benchmark interest rate as soon as next month, according to a former BOJ board member, backing intensifying market speculation over an impending move.
"The BOJ may act in October,” said Makoto Sakurai, a former member of the nine-person board, in an interview Wednesday. The decision will depend heavily on the degree of certainty authorities are seeking, "but economic data by then could be robust because of a delay in the appearance of the tariff impact.”
Market expectations for a rate hike when the bank next sets policy on Oct. 30 have been gaining momentum as inflation has held steady and the economy has showed resilience even as U.S. trade policies jolted global commerce.
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