Japan’s Finance Minister hints at future interest rate increase, remains vague on timeline

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki had an interview with Japan’s media, Nikkei, over the weekend:

• “The Bank of Japan holds jurisdiction over monetary policy. But there will be a phase when interest rates go up”

He didn’t give a time frame so this is not a really helpful comment.

On the yen:

• there are pros and cons to its moves that have varying effects on Japan’s exporters and firms reliant on imports
• declined to comment on whether a weak yen, or a strong yen, was desirable for the economy

Again, not much assistance.