BOJ likely to raise interest rates at Dec. 18-19 policy meeting: sources

The Bank of Japan is likely to raise its benchmark interest rate from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent, the highest level in 30 years, at its Dec. 18-19 policy meeting in a bid to tackle prolonged inflation, sources familiar with the BOJ's thinking said Friday.The move would come as the yen's lingering weakness has driven up import costs and fueled inflation at home, and as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to expand government spending to spur economic growth has pushed long-term interest rates higher.The government is leaning toward accepting a rate hike, as uncertainty over the U.S. econ…READ FULL ARTICLE