No change to BOJ rates

No change to BOJ rates

TOKYO (AFP): The Bank of Japan said at the end of a two-day
board meeting Friday that it was keeping monetary policy
unchanged.

"The Bank of Japan will conduct money market operations,
aiming the outstanding balance of the current accounts at the
Bank at around five trillion yen (US$40.65 billion)," a central
bank statement said.

"Should there be a risk of financial market instability, eg a
rapid surge in liquidity demand, the Bank will provide ampler
liquidity irrespective of the guideline above," the statement
said in unchanged wording from last month.

The Bank of Japan staged a U-turn in March when it effectively
returned to zero interest rates to help prop up the sagging
economy.