Bank of Japan Official Calls for Flexible Rate Hikes to Prevent Price Risks

According to Sina Finance, Bank of Japan Policy Board member Hajime Takata reiterated his earlier call for flexible interest-rate increases to prevent price rises. "I think that, in addition to examining overseas conditions, the central bank also needs to flexibly raise rates after assessing the degree of easing in domestic financial conditions," Takata said on Wednesday in Sapporo, Hokkaido, while speaking to local business leaders. At the policy meeting on July 30-31, Takata called for raising the policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.25% and cast the only dissenting vote against the board's decision to keep rates around 1%.