BOJ expected to hold interest rates steady at next meeting

Policy board meets next week amid concerns of U.S. tariffs hurting global economy

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks to reporters at the bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 24, following a policy board meeting. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)

JUNTARO ARAI

March 16, 2025 05:01 JST

TOKYO -- The Bank of Japan will likely keep its policy interest rate at 0.5% when the policy board meets on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nikkei has learned, amid growing concerns that the global economy will be pushed down by U.S. tariffs and other factors.

The central bank had just raised rates at its previous meeting in January, and it is poised to carefully gauge the impact of that hike on the economy and prices.