Japan's annual wholesale inflation held steady at 3.8% in December on stubbornly high food costs, data showed on Thursday, highlighting persistent price pressures that may prod the central bank to raise interest rates next week.

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda said at an event on Wednesday that the BOJ will raise rates next week if economic indicators show improvement. He added that he is aware of "many positive stories" of higher wages.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Wednesday the bank will debate whether to raise its key rate at its policy meeting next week a

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Thursday the central bank will debate next week whether to raise interest rates, based on its fresh quarterly growth and inflation forecasts.

Following Ueda’s remarks, the yen strengthened as much as 0.4% to ¥157.34 against the dollar, after earlier hovering around the ¥158 level.

Governor Kazuo Ueda yesterday joined his deputy in raising market expectations of a potential interest rate hike next week, boosting the yen and signaling the central bank is doing its utmost to avoid a global market crash that followed the rate hike in July last year.

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda echoed recent comments that have revived market expectations for imminent policy action.

The Bank of Japan will debate whether to raise interest rates next week, Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Wednesday, signaling its intention to take borrowing costs higher barring a Trump-driven market shock.