BOJ’s Ueda Keeps April Rate Hike on Table After Hawkish Hold

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda kept the possibility of an April interest rate hike on the table after leaving policy unchanged Thursday amid uncertainty over the impact of the Middle East conflict on the economic outlook.

Speaking at a press briefing after the central bank’s decision he said that downward pressure on the economy stemming from the impact of the hostilities would likely be temporary.