Bank of Japan deputy governor Shinichi Uchida (Reuters filepix by Issei Kato)

HAKODATE, Japan (Aug 7): The Bank of Japan’s influential deputy governor said on Wednesday that the central bank won’t hike interest rates when markets are unstable, playing down the chance of a near-term hike in borrowing costs.

The remarks by Shinichi Uchida, which contrasted with governor Kazuo Ueda’s hawkish comments made last week when the BOJ unexpectedly raised interest rates, boosted Japan’s Nikkei share average and sent the yen sharply lower.

Uchida said the intense market volatility in the past week could “obviously” change the BOJ’s rate hike path, if it affects the central bank’s economic and price projections and the likelihood of Japan durably achieving its 2% inflation target.

“As we’re seeing sharp volatility in domestic and overseas financial markets, it’s necessary to maintain current levels of monetary easing for the time being,” Uchida said in a speech to business leaders in the northern Japanese city of Hakodate.

The recent strengthening of the yen would affect the BOJ’s policy decision-making because it reduces upward pressure on import prices, and therefore overall inflation, Uchida said.

Stock market volatility would also influence its decisions by affecting corporate activity and consumption, he added.

“Unlike US and European central banks, we’re not in a situation where we would end up being behind the curve, unless we hike interest rates at a set pace,” Uchida said.

“We won’t raise interest rates when financial markets are unstable,” Uchida said.

The US dollar surged to a session high of 147.50 yen (RM4.51) and was last up 1.6% at 146.59 after Uchida’s remarks. The Nikkei average climbed 3%, while the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond (JGB) yield fell one basis point to 0.875%.

“The BOJ hiked interest rates because it didn’t like the weak yen. Now, it appears to be suggesting a pause in rate hikes because it doesn’t like stocks falling,” said Takuya Kanda, an analyst at Gaitame.com Research Institute.

“If the BOJ is watching markets so much in setting policy, there’s a chance it won’t be able to raise rates that much.”

US outlook key

Last week, the BOJ raised interest rates to levels unseen in 15 years and unveiled a detailed plan to slow its massive bond buying, taking another step towards phasing out a decade of huge stimulus.

Governor Ueda said the BOJ will keep raising rates if the economy and prices move in line with its projection, signalling the chance of steady hikes in coming years.

The hawkish remarks, as well as weak US labour data that stoked fears of recession in the world’s largest economy, helped contribute to a global market rout that sent the yen soaring and Japan’s Nikkei average plunging on Monday.

Markets have whipsawed since then, partly as traders reassessed the timing and pace of future BOJ rate hikes.

While stressing the need to keep monetary policy loose for the time being, Uchida said Japan’s economy was likely to keep recovering, with the United States seen achieving a soft landing.

“Uchida’s comments are clearly dovish. Unless market sentiment recovers rapidly, the chance of the BOJ hiking rates either in September or October is low,” said Toru Suehiro, an economist at Daiwa Securities.

“But if US recession fears subside around year-end, the BOJ will likely raise rates in December,” he said.

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