Bank of Japan board member Takako Masai has said the global economy is on track for a rebound around mid-year as manufacturing activity picks up, signaling that risks such as the coronavirus outbreak do not warrant an immediate expansion of stimulus.
Masai, who has consistently voted with the majority of the board, acknowledged that the coronavirus epidemic is among risks to the global economy and may hurt Japanese business sentiment.
The sales tax hike that rolled out last October could also weigh on consumption over time by reducing households' real income, she said Thursday.