BOJ Summary Suggests Ueda Can Wait for Wages Before Hiking

Bank of Japan board members discussed the potential timing of the nation’s first interest rate hike since 2007 during their meeting last week, with several members indicating they see no rush to make the move.

“It would not be too late even if the bank makes a decision after it sees developments in labor-management wage negotiations next spring,” one of nine board members said at the December 18-19 gathering. There is only a small risk of underlying inflation overshooting its 2% target by a significant degree, the same member said.