BOJ board member Masu calls for early rate hike

The Bank of Japan should raise interest rates as soon as possible if there are no clear signs of an economic slowdown, Kazuyuki Masu, a member of the central bank's board, said on Thursday, pointing to mixed views at an April policy meeting. The remarks by Masu, who voted to keep rates steady, suggest he may join the dissenters to call for a rate hike at the BOJ's next meeting in June."I myself judge that the situation did not warrant a hasty hike," Masu said in a speech. "That said, if data do not indicate clear signs of an economic downturn, I believe it is desirable to raise rates at the earliest stage ...