[Reports Suggest BOJ Hasn't Ruled Out April Rate Hike] March 5, Jin10 News – According to foreign media reports, informed sources revealed that Bank of Japan (BOJ) officials are still advancing along the path of rate hikes and have not ruled out the possibility of a rate hike in April, while continuing to assess the impact of Middle East tensions on Japan's economy. Although officials believe the likelihood of a rate hike in March is low, as long as the economic outlook develops as expected, they have not yet changed their stance on continuing rate hikes. Officials consider the duration of the conflict to be a key variable in assessing Japan's economic outlook and the risks to the interest rate path. They stated that policy decisions will continue to be made on a meeting-by-meeting basis, and an April rate hike cannot be ruled out. Informed sources said the BOJ will closely monitor the inflationary risks brought by rising oil prices, especially as Japanese companies are increasingly willing to pass on rising costs to consumers. If Middle East tensions persist and keep crude oil prices elevated, this could push up inflation expectations and strengthen price momentum. Before the U.S. launched an attack on Iran over the weekend, Japan's economic and inflation trends were broadly in line with the BOJ's forecasts.