Market Analysis: Bank of Japan's April meeting minutes leave room for policy options

Golden Ten Data reported on May 12 that, according to economists at BNP Paribas, the “Summary of Opinions” from the Bank of Japan’s April monetary policy meeting shows that Policy Board members are preparing for a rate hike in the near future, while at the same time leaving themselves room for policy decisions at the June meeting. They added that the key consideration in deciding whether or not to hike rates next time will likely be whether the Middle East conflict triggers serious supply chain issues. "Even among those members who fundamentally hold a hawkish stance on rate hikes, the summary indicates that they remain highly alert to the potential risks of supply chain disruptions."