Bank Of Japan Keeps Monetary Policy Unchanged

Bank of Japan officials on Tuesday voted to maintain their policy of buying assets at a pace of 80 trillion yen ($668 billion) a year. That decision was widely expected, though an AP report said a small minority of experts had speculated the BOJ could spring a surprise increase in its asset purchases to combat recent recurring signs the recovery is faltering. In a news conference after the BOJ's two-day policy meeting at which no new action was taken, Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda said slowing emerging economies are undermining Japanese exports and production. This gave some investors a stronger impression that additional easing may be coming soon.