BOJ holds key rate steady, Ueda says more data needed before next move

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Thursday it is necessary to assess more economic data before resuming interest rate hikes, as the central bank left its benchmark rate unchanged at its first policy meeting since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office last week.In a news conference after the BOJ's two-day meeting, Ueda said it "still remains highly uncertain" how overseas economic activity and prices will respond to higher U.S. tariffs, but added that the likelihood of achieving the bank's outlook has increased.Asked why the BOJ maintained the short-term rate at around 0.5 percent f…READ FULL ARTICLE