BOJ steady on policy ahead of wage talks, more upbeat about inflation

The Bank of Japan maintained its ultraeasy monetary policy Tuesday despite its increased confidence about the inflation outlook, as the central bank seeks to ensure pay hikes by Japanese firms this year will pave the way for its 2 percent target to be finally achieved.BOJ chief Kazuo Ueda said that the likelihood of hitting the inflation target is "gradually rising" and that negative interest rates will end when the goal comes into view, amid market expectations that such a decision will come as early as this spring.Still, he gave no clear hint as to when it might be, reiterating that the o…READ FULL ARTICLE