Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino reiterated that the central bank will raise rates if its outlook continues to be realized, while adding that there are risks both at home and abroad that require attention.

Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino has signaled that an interest rate hike may be on the cards at the monetary policy meeting on January 23-24, as many of the shocks to the Japanese economy and deflationary factors have been resolved.

Governor Kazuo Ueda yesterday joined his deputy in raising market expectations of a potential interest rate hike next week, boosting the yen and signaling the central bank is doing its utmost to avoid a global market crash that followed the rate hike in July last year.