Japan’s central bank has raised the cost of borrowing for only the second time in 17 years as it tries to normalise monetary policy in the world’s fourth largest economy.
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) increased its key interest rate to “around 0.25%” from the previous range of 0% to 0.1%.
It also outlined a plan to unwind its massive bond buying programme as it eases back from a decade of stimulus measures.
The move comes hours before the US Federal Reserve is set to announce its latest interest rate decision, while an announcement is also expected from the Bank of England on Thursday.
“The rate hike was widely expected after domestic media reported the decision ahead of time on Tuesday night,” said Stefan Angrick, a senior economist at Moody’s Analytics.
“But the move sits uncomfortably with a poor run of economic data and lack of demand-driven inflation.”
Official figures showed Japan’s economy shrank by an annualised 2.9% in January to March, while consumer prices rose by a less-than-expected 2.6% in June from a year earlier.
“Despite sluggish consumer spending, monetary officials sent a decisive signal by raising interest rates and allowing for more gradual balance sheet reduction,” said Frederic Neumann, Chief Asia Economist at HSBC.
“Barring major disruptions, the BoJ is on course to tighten further, with another interest hike by the start of next year,” he added.
In March, the BoJ raised borrowing costs for the first time since 2007.
It meant that there were no longer any countries in the world left with negative interest rates.
In 2016, the BoJ cut its main interest rate below zero in an attempt to stimulate the country’s stagnating economy.
When negative rates are in force people have to pay to deposit money in a bank. They have been used by several countries as a way of encouraging people to spend their money rather than putting it in a bank.
During the pandemic, central banks around the world slashed interest rates as they attempted to counteract the negative impact of border closures and lockdowns.
At the time some countries, including Switzerland and Denmark, as well as the European Central Bank, introduced negative interest rates.
Since then central banks around the world, like the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, have raised interest rates to curb soaring prices.