Flashlight for the December FOMC Blackout Period: A Contentious Cut

Reports That The BOJ Is Said Likely To Hike This Month, Leave Open To More - Hike Would Still Leave Rate Support Ing Economy, People Say - BOJ Is Said Aware Of How Ueda's Monday Comments Would Be Viewed - BOJ Is Said To Check Data, Market Moves Up To Final Decision BOJ Is Said Likely to Raise Interest Rates at December Meeting Bank of Japan officials are ready to raise interest rates at a policy meeting later this month, provided there’s no major shock to the economy or financial markets in the meantime, according to people familiar with the matter. The central bank will also indicate it will continue to raise rates if its economic outlook is realized while remaining cautious on how far they will eventually push rates up, the people said. The officials see a high likelihood of increasing the benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point to 0.75% at the end of a two-day gathering on Dec. 19, the people said. A rate hike would push the policy rate in Japan to its highest level since 1995. A key market focus is how aggressively the central bank will point to additional hikes.