#数字资产动态追踪 Bank of Japan New Year Statement: Raise Rates When Conditions Are Met, Truly Suppressing Inflation

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda's recent remarks have attracted market attention. To put it simply, the BOJ still maintains the same stance—prepared to raise interest rates, but the preconditions haven't changed. This approach has been repeated for over half a year and is not a sudden policy shift.

Why is that? Let's look at a few key points:

**Consistent and Unchanged Policy Signals**
Ueda's New Year speech seamlessly aligns with the BOJ's official stance over the past six months. "We are willing to raise rates, but only when conditions are ripe," this message has been reiterated multiple times, and the market has already digested it.

**The Hard Indicators for Rate Hike Are Not Yet in Place**
The core issue boils down to two words: wages. What is the central bank waiting for? They are waiting for Japanese wages to rise steadily, with prices also increasing accordingly, creating a healthy feedback loop. That is the signal for them to act. Currently, there is not enough strong evidence, so they remain on hold.

**Annual New Year Briefing**
Holding a speech to financial institutions at the start of the year is more about sending consistent signals and stabilizing market expectations—standard practice for the central bank.

Frankly, Governor Ueda's remarks do not hint at an imminent rate hike. Whether the BOJ will take action depends on wage growth, inflation data, and global economic changes. How these variables evolve will directly determine when they will truly step in.