The Bank of Japan on Thursday kept its rates steady at 0.75% as expected, but noted that inflation risks now are tilted to the upside due to the Iran war. In its statement, the BOJ said the decision was split, with eight of the nine members voting in favor of a hold. The only dissenter was Hajime Takata, who viewed “overseas developments” as a risk for prices in Japan and proposed a rate hike to 1%. In its statement, the BOJ said that while core inflation is expected to temporarily decelerate below 2% in the near term due to a slowdown in rice price increases, the conflict in the Middle East will exert “upward ... (full story)