BOJ to slow JGB purchase tapering as Ueda stresses 'market stability'

TOKYO -- The Bank of Japan on Tuesday said it will slow down its tapering of government bond purchases and also announced that it will hold its key interest rate steady amid economic uncertainty stemming from U.S. trade policies.

The yen temporarily strengthened but then was largely flat following the central bank's two-day policy meeting in which it kept its uncollateralized overnight call rate at 0.5%. This marks the third consecutive meeting after which the central bank has maintained the rate; the last increase came in January.