BOJ's Takata urges nimble rate hikes to counter inflation pressures

TOKYO, Sept 2 : The Bank of Japan should conduct interest rate hikes nimbly in response to inflationary pressures, rather than at a fixed semiannual pace, hawkish board member Hajime Takata said on Wednesday.Rather than semiannual rate hikes previously anticipated by markets, 2026 represents a regime change, with future hikes becoming more nimble and data-dependent, driven by domestic inflation and growth trends as well as overseas developments, Takata said in a speech to business leaders in Sapporo in northern Japan."I consider it necessary for the BOJ to shift from the current stance of encouraging a rise in underlying inflation and to demonstrate to the market its determination to prevent upward deviations in prices," he said.He added that the BOJ needs to carefully monitor the risk tha