<div id="readability-page-1"><div> By Megumi Fujikawa <pre></pre> A Bank of Japan policymaker has warned that Middle East tensions could cause underlying inflation to overshoot the BOJ's target, offering another signal that rate hikes are around the corner. &#34;It is reasonable for the bank to raise the policy interest rate at an appropriate pace to address high inflation while also considering the trade-offs for the economy,&#34; policy board member Junko Koeda told business leaders in the southern prefecture of Fukuoka on Thursday. Japan's underlying inflation is likely already at around 2%, Koeda said, and crude oil prices could stay elevated for some time given the developments around the conflict in the Middle East. The comments will likely fuel already-strong expectations that the bank will hike interest rates at its next meeting in June as it grows increasingly concerned about the possibility that the rise in oil prices will accelerate underlying inflation. A recent speech by another BOJ board member and a summary of opinions from its last meeting in April have foreshadowed a hawkish shift. Hiking rates right as higher oil prices threaten to slow Japan's economy by restraining corporate activity and private consumption is not without risk. But BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda has said the bank will tighten policy settings if prices keep increasing and the economy seems likely to avoid a major downturn. Koeda, an academic specializing in macroeconomics and finance, said the economy is likely to avoid a significant slump, as seen during the global financial crisis or the pandemic, pointing to a positive output gap, strong global tech-related demand and the government's various measures. <pre></pre> Write to Megumi Fujikawa at megumi.fujikawa@wsj.com <pre></pre> (END) Dow Jones Newswires May 20, 2026 22:26 ET (02:26 GMT)Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones &amp; Company, Inc.</div></div>

2 倍做多日圓 ETF - ProShares

1329

日元指數 ETF - CurrencyShares

1570

2 倍做空日元 ETF - ProShares

日本銀行政策制定者小枝純子表示，中東地區日益緊張的局勢可能會推動通脹超過日本銀行的目標，這暗示着即將加息。隨着日本的通脹率約為 2%，以及對高油價的擔憂，市場對 6 月會議加息的預期正在上升。小枝認為，儘管在油價上漲的背景下加息存在風險，但由於全球需求強勁和政府措施的支持，經濟可以避免重大下滑

BOJ Policymaker Signals That Rate Hike Might Be Approaching

- 日本央行官員警告中東局勢可能導致通脹超出目標。  
- 官員指出，油價高企可能加劇這一風險。  
- 市場預期央行將在 6 月加息，以應對通脹壓力。

日本央行的決策者暗示加息可能即將到來