"The upgrade in the BOJ's consumption assessment shows it is becoming increasingly convinced that things are on track, with rising wages pushing up household income and spending," said Naomi Muguruma, chief bond strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.

The Bank of Japan unanimously decided to keep its policy rate unchanged at 0.25%. Amid growing confidence in achieving its sustainable inflation target, the BoJ will closely watch the impact of FX movements on inflation. The timing of the next hike remains uncertain, but we see a chance of a hike in December.

The Bank of Japan has opted to hold short-term interest rates, pointing to a moderate recovery in the economy but warning that “high uncertainties” remain in the outlook for activity and prices. In a widely expected decision on Friday,

The Bank of Japan left its short-term policy rate unchanged Friday as it examines how the economy and markets are digesting its most recent interest-rate increase.

The Bank of Japan is set to keep monetary policy steady on Friday, but signal its confidence that solid wage growth and consumption will allow the central bank to raise interest rates again in coming months.