Asset management firm: Bank of Japan may resume interest rate hikes in the coming months

```htmlGolden Ten Data reported on April 27 that Kei Fujimoto, an economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management, expects the Bank of Japan will keep its interest rate unchanged at 0.75% on Tuesday. However, this pause in rate hikes does not necessarily mean the bank will further delay tightening. The Bank of Japan has repeatedly emphasized that the financial environment remains accommodative and that its policy stance still leans towards tightening. Therefore, if tensions in the Middle East ease and uncertainty decreases—even slightly—the likelihood of an interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan in June or July will increase.```