The Bank of Japan downgraded slightly its assessment of the economy for the third consecutive month Wednesday, admitting that the likelihood of a recovery by the end of the year is fading.
The assessment was used at the BOJ's two-day Policy Board meeting that ended Tuesday, during which the central bank decided to further ease monetary policy.
In general, most believe that signs of a global economic recovery will surface around the end of the year, and that exports will pick up "some time in the future," the BOJ said in the monthly report.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.