[Institution: The Bank of Japan's Actions Will Depend on Whether Inflation Spreads Beyond Energy to Other Sectors] According to a report by Jinse Finance on April 24, Nobuyasu Atago, an economist at Rakuten Securities Economic Research Institute, stated that the key focus of the Bank of Japan's next move lies in the extent to which the rise in energy prices caused by the Middle East conflict triggers a ripple effect on other goods and services. He expects the Bank of Japan to maintain the status quo at next week's meeting, as under such shocks, the central bank should ensure that necessary funds are provided to those in need rather than raising interest rates. He remarked: 'It is appropriate to delay rate hikes until the situation in the Strait of Hormuz moves toward normalization or the outlook for crude oil procurement becomes clearer.' (Jin10)