Bank of Japan board member Yutaka Harada comments out on Reuters
- can not say its impossible to lower rates further into negative territory in April
- BOJ will fully debate additional easing steps if needed to respond to economic risks
- natural to ease policy immediately if big risks to outlook materialize
- if BOJ eases immediately it does not violate pledge to avoid incremental steps.
- strong yen does weaken upward pressure on prices
- inflation expectations will improve once oil price declines fades away
- it's possible to meet price target but timing will be delayed
These comments adding to those reported by Eamonn earlier.
USDJPY edges up to test 109.00 on the easing/neg rate talk again but offers capping for the moment. Currently 108.97
BOJ's Harada not ruling out negative rates
