The Bank of Japan held its key short-term interest rate steady Thursday, confounding predictions of a rate hike by market-watchers and avoiding an expected clash with lawmakers.

But the 6-to-3 vote reflected growing momentum within the BOJ Policy Board that interest rates should rise. The split vote was the first since the BOJ ended its quantitative easing policy last March.

At the end of the two-day meeting, the board opted to maintain the overnight call rate at 0.25 percent, where it has been since last July.