TOKYO — A majority of the Bank of Japan‘s policy board is likely to favor an additional rate hike at the monetary policy meeting to be held next Thursday and Friday, multiple sources have told Nikkei, which would raise the BOJ’s policy rate to 0.5%, a 17-year-high.
The sources said that some of the nine-member board hold cautious views, and a final decision needs to be made after the inauguration and statements by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, which could impact markets. Still, the sources count a majority of the board as supporting the central bank to move toward further monetary tightening.