Japan's Central Bank May Raise Policy Rate Amid Inflation Concerns

Economists from Daiwa Securities suggest that the Bank of Japan might increase its policy rate between April and June, contrary to previous expectations. According to Odaily, the economists' report highlights that fiscal expansion and a weakening yen have heightened market concerns about rising prices, prompting calls for an earlier rate hike. They further note that Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda has indicated he will closely monitor Japanese companies' price adjustments in April. The central bank's branch managers' meeting and Tokyo's April CPI data could be crucial in deciding the timing of the next rate increase.