BOJ negative rate seen as top tool by analysts

Tokyo

THE Bank of Japan's (BOJ) new negative rate is the most likely tool for any expansion of stimulus, with a majority of economists in a survey forecasting additional easing by July.

Eighty per cent of analysts see a further cut to the negative rate as the most likely action for governor Haruhiko Kuroda, and almost 90 per cent see more easing coming at one of the four meetings till the end of July. Only five of 40 economists expect additional stimulus at the meeting ending on March 15, according to the survey by Bloomberg.