BOJ: Flexible operations curb bond volatility

Bank of Japan policymakers concluded there was no need for additional steps in June to contain interest rate spikes, as the central bank’s flexible bond buying operation had curbed market volatility, the minutes of their policy meeting last month showed Wednesday. At the meeting on June 10 and 11, the nine-member Policy Board discussed the possibility of extending the term of fixed low-interest-rate loans to financial institutions amid rising long-term interest rates and sliding Japanese stocks at the time, the minutes showed, according to (Kyodo) news agency. Under its fixed-rate fund provision program, the BOJ currently offers maximum one-year loans to financial institutions such as banks at an annual interest rate of 0.1%, taking government bonds and other securities as collateral.