Bank of Japan Interest Rate Decision Outlook: Interest rates are expected to remain unchanged this month, with an increased possibility of a rate hike in May.

On March 19, the Japanese Central Bank's interest rate decision outlook is as follows: 1. Standard Chartered: The Japanese Central Bank may keep the interest rate unchanged, with the next rate hike possibly occurring in the second quarter of 2025 to balance inflation risks and growth targets. 2. JPMorgan: The Japanese Central Bank is likely to maintain the interest rate unchanged, and may raise the possibility of a rate hike in the next meeting in May, although the benchmark scenario is a rate hike in June. 3. ANZ: The Japanese Central Bank may keep the interest rate unchanged, with two more rate hikes expected this year in May and October, each by 25 basis points. If fluctuations rise, the willingness of central bank officials to adjust policies in May will be limited. 4. Capital Economics: The Japanese Central Bank may maintain the interest rate unchanged, but due to inflation rates exceeding expectations, it is very likely that the central bank will hike rates in May rather than the widely expected July, with expectations that the central bank will raise rates to 1.5% before 2027. 5. Bank of America: The Japanese Central Bank may keep the interest rate unchanged, with one focus potentially being the press conference after Governor Ueda's meeting, particularly the central bank's assessment of recent data and hints regarding the timing of the next rate hike; the second focus is the central bank's stance on the recent tightening of financial conditions. Today at 14:30, Bank of Japan Governor Ueda will hold a monetary policy press conference. (金十)