Barclays: The Bank of Japan may raise interest rates this month, but uncertainty may persist.

Barclays economists said in a report that the Bank of Japan may raise interest rates this month. Factors they cited include the slightly tighter tone of the Bank of Japan's March meeting minutes and the weakening of the yen. However, it has been two weeks since the March meeting, and the risk of prolonged conflicts in the Middle East seems to have increased. It is possible that more members of the Bank of Japan's committee will now believe that Japan's economic downturn will become more severe. Therefore, these economists added that the decision on whether to raise interest rates at the meeting on April 27-28 may remain uncertain until the "last moment".