BoJ ends meeting with no fresh policy measures
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TOKYO (AFP) - The Bank of Japan wrapped up its last policy meeting under governor Masaaki Shirakawa on Thursday, announcing no fresh policy measures but offering an upbeat assessment of the economy.
The BoJ, which also left rates unchanged at zero to 0.1 per cent, said the world's third-largest economy has "stopped weakening" and is "expected to level off more or less for the time being".
The bank was widely expected to take no action as Mr Shirakawa gets set to step down about three weeks before the end of his term, following public sparring with the nation's premier over policy.
Mr Shirakawa's departure on March 19 heralds the start of what could be a major policy shift for the central bank as the government demands action to stoke the listless economy.
