The Bank of Japan concluded its two-day policy meeting Thursday, maintaining rates at 0.25% and continuing to signal its intention to raise rates when the time is right.

“The decision to keep the policy rate unchanged was not a surprise, as many economists, including myself, had anticipated it,” said Hirofumi Suzuki, chief foreign exchange strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.

Gov. Kazuo Ueda has made it clear over the past few months that any monetary policy moves are dependent on inflation and growth data being aligned with forecasts, and he reiterated that point in comments after Thursday's rate announcement.