By Megumi Fujikawa
The Bank of Japan's policy board discussed the possibility of ending negative interest rates in the near future, according to a summary of opinions from its latest January meeting released Wednesday.
"It seems that conditions for policy revision, including the termination of the negative interest rate policy, are being met," one of the nine policy board members said at the meeting held on Jan. 22 and 23. The member pointed to improvements in wage and price trends.
The summary also showed an opinion that the bank needs to start discussing the exit from the current monetary policy because the achievement of the target is becoming more realistic, although it is still not certain.
A board member said it would be natural to discontinue stock purchases once the goal is achieved.
"The bank is highly likely to reach a point where it can normalize monetary policy" after assessing the impact of a Jan. 1 earthquake that hit the west coast of Japan for about one or two months, another board member said.
The BOJ's summary of opinions doesn't identify individual speakers.
Write to Megumi Fujikawa at megumi.fujikawa@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
01-30-24 1954ET
