BOJ debated mounting price risks even upon hiking rates in June, minutes show

TOKYO, Aug 5 : Bank of Japan policymakers debated mounting price risks that likely required more rate hikes even as they raised borrowing costs to a 31-year high in June, minutes of the meeting showed on Wednesday, highlighting the central bank's increased focus on broadening inflation.A few board members said consumer inflation will likely get a significant boost in the latter half of the current fiscal year as firms plan price hikes for a wide range of goods, minutes of the June meeting showed."Even if the Middle East conflict ends and crude oil prices decline, inflationary pressure would remain given the high costs of shipping and storage associated with the procurement of alternative source of supply," one member was quoted as saying.The BOJ raised interest rates to a 31-year high of 1