Investing.com - The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady on Thursday despite growing signs of strength in the economy, signalling that it was in no rush to edge away from crisis-mode stimulus with inflation still distant from its 2% target.
"Japan's economy is expanding moderately," the BOJ said in a statement announcing the policy decision in an 8-1 vote. Board member Goushi Kataoka dissented to the decision, arguing that the likelihood of inflation accelerating towards 2% was low. BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda will hold a news conference at 3:30 p.m. (0630 GMT) to explain the policy decision.