Bank of Japan policy board member Hitoshi Suzuki speaking

  • Important to patiently maintain powerful monetary easing
  • Some distance to achieving price target but economic expansion continuing
  • Short-, long-term rates at levels in line with BOJ's policy guidance
  • Must watch how massive monetary easing affecting Japan's economy, prices, financial developments
  • Prolonged easing lowers borrowing costs for firms but also weighs on financial institutions' profits
  • Must carefully watch how US, European monetary policy normalisation affects bond yields, emerging market fund flows
  • Japan upward pressure steadily increasing as labour market tightens
  • Making slow but steady progress in hitting BOJ price target

Suzuki will be following u with a press conference later (due at 0500 GMT)