In its first policy decision under new leadership, the Bank of Japan decided March 26 to maintain its easy monetary policy, including an all-time low official discount rate of 0.5 percent.
The BOJ's monetary policy meeting, chaired by new Gov. Masaru Hayami, reached the decision unanimously, the bank said. The discussion lasted only an hour and 40 minutes, less than half the time of previous meetings. No reason was immediately provided, though Hayami had to attend a Diet session in the morning following the meeting. Minutes of the meeting will be released April 30, and the next meeting is scheduled for April 9.