TOKYO - Japan's central bank opted on Friday for a modest expansion of its lavish monetary stimulus to help perk up sluggish growth and combat deflation. The central bank said it would almost double its annual purchases of exchange traded funds, to 6 trillion yen ($57 billion) from the current 3.3 trillion yen. "There is considerable uncertainty over the outlook for prices against the background of uncertainties surrounding overseas economies and global financial markets," the central bank said. The central bank did not change the interest it charges on policy-rate balances it holds for commercial banks, which is now at a record low minus 0.1%. Governor Haruhiko Kuroda (centre) poses with other members of Policy Board of the Bank of Japan before their meeting at its headquarters in Tokyo on Friday.

Source: Bangkok Post July 29, 2016 05:26 UTC