Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda steered clear of signalling a rate hike was on the cards this month, instead highlighting the country's low real interest rates and robust corporate profits, heightening the chance it will hold fire at least until June. Japan is facing rising inflation from a "negative supply shock," which is more difficult to rein in with monetary policy than inflation driven by strong demand, Ueda said. The best approach to such a shock would vary from country to country, Ueda told a press conference after attending the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Washington. "Having ... (full story)