BOJ keeps monetary policy unchanged despite signs of slowing economy

The Bank of Japan left its ultraeasy monetary policy unchanged Thursday despite signs of a slowdown in the country's economy since a consumption tax hike in October.After a two-day meeting, the BOJ Policy Board decided to keep the short-term interest rate at minus 0.1 percent and guide long-term rates to around zero percent. It will also continue its massive asset purchase program.The decision came after the central bank's quarterly Tankan survey released Friday showed sentiment among large manufacturers worsened for a fourth straight quarter to a near seven-year low.But the BOJ followed th…READ FULL ARTICLE