Tokyo: The Bank of Japan kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged amid uncertainty over the situation in the Middle East.
The central bank said at the end of its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday it will continue to target a short-term rate of around 0.75 percent, according to NHK News.
The central bank lowered its forecast for Japanese economic growth in the current fiscal year to 0.5 percent, compared to its previous forecast of 1.0 percent.
Core consumer prices, excluding volatile fresh food items, are expected to rise by 2.8 percent in the current fiscal year, revised upward from the January forecast of 1.9 percent.
