Former Bank of Japan (BOJ) monetary policy official Eiji Maeda stated that even with new uncertainties arising from the Iranian conflict, the probability of a rate hike next month remains around 50%, following the BOJ's decision to keep rates unchanged in March. He said, "The next rate hike is most likely to occur in April or June. Considering the current uncertainties, these two possibilities are roughly equal. This is an extremely difficult situation for the BOJ." He indicated that an April rate hike would be more prudent due to the rising risk of lagging inflation. His view aligns with market expectations, with overnight swap market data showing traders viewing an April rate hike as approximately 60%. Maeda noted, "If the BOJ doesn't act in April, the yen could weaken further. A break above 160 against the dollar would increase the risk of lagging behind market movements." Even at current levels, the yen is already "quite weak," and a slight pullback would be more comfortable for Japanese businesses and households. (Jinshi)