BOJ Needs to Keep Raising Rates as Oil Raises Inflation Risks, Ueda Says
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the central bank needs to keep raising interest rates in response to developments in the economy and inflation, as higher crude oil prices are likely to lift not only energy costs but prices more broadly. He said upside risks to prices appear greater overall and likely to emerge sooner, while Japan's real interest rate is still low.
Asked about the chance of a June rate increase, Ueda said policymakers would debate the pros and cons of a hike if inflationary risks are judged to outweigh downside risks to economic activity. He said the BOJ will set the pace of future increases by assessing whether the economy and prices are moving toward its forecasts, with an eye on the Middle East conflict, and warned that delaying a necessary response could force sharper hikes later, burdening the economy, markets and the financial system.
From the sources (12 posts)
@financialjuiceBoJ's Governor Ueda: This year's oil price increase is not as large as in the first oil crisis, but it is comparable in magnitude to the other shocks.
@firstsquawkBOJ GOV UEDA: EVEN IF SITUATION REGARDING MIDDLE EAST REMAINS UNCLEAR, SHOULD IT BE JUDGED THAT UPSIDE RISKS TO PRICES OUTWEIGH DOWNSIDE RISKS TO ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO THOROUGHLY DISCUSS PROS AND CONS OF RAISING POLICY
@financialjuiceBoJ's Governor Ueda: BoJ will continue to raise policy rate at appropriate pace if it judges that likelihood of realizing baseline scenario will rise.
@financialjuiceBoJ's Governor Ueda: Likely that a rise in crude oil prices will push up the prices not only of energy, but also prices in general, particularly of a wide range of goods.
@financialjuiceBoJ's Governor Ueda: Japan's real interest rate is still low
@financialjuiceBoJ's Governor Ueda: Upside risks to prices appear to be greater overall and are likely to emerge sooner, based on data and anecdotal info available so far
@financialjuiceBoJ's Governor Ueda: Core CPI is likely to pick up the pace due to oil
@financialjuiceBoj Gov Ueda: If we delay a necessary response, we could be forced to raise rates sharply, which in turn would hurt the economy and impose a huge burden on markets and the financial system
@firstsquawkBOJ GOV UEDA: IF WE DELAY NECESSARY RESPONSE, WE COULD BE FORCED TO RAISE RATES SHARPLY WHICH IN TURN WOULD HURT ECONOMY, IMPOSE HUGE BURDEN ON MARKETS AND FINANCIAL SYSTEM
@businessThe Bank of Japan needs to keep raising interest rates in response to developments in the economy and inflation, Governor Kazuo Ueda said
@firstsquawkBOJ GOV UEDA: IF WE JUDGE THAT INFLATIONARY RISK OUTWEIGH DOWNSIDE ECONOMIC RISK, WE WILL DEBATE PROS AND CONS OF RATE HIKE, WHEN ASKED ABOUT CHANCE OF RATE HIKE IN JUNE
@financialjuiceBoJ Gov Ueda: We will determine the future pace of rate hikes by scrutinising the likelihood of the economy, prices achieving our forecasts, as well as risks, with an eye on the impact of the Middle East conflict