金融緩和後退ではない　３月の政策点検―若田部日銀副総裁

　日銀の若田部昌澄副総裁は３日、オンライン形式で講演した。３月をめどに日銀が実施する金融政策の「点検」について、「コスト面に配慮しながらも、いかに効果的な金融緩和を機動的に行うかが議論の焦点だ」と述べた。その上で、「緩和の後退方向での議論ではない」と強調した。（2021/02/03-11:49）

The Bank of Japan has no intention of scaling back its monetary easing when the central bank conducts an assessment of the current policy by next month, Deputy Governor Masazumi Wakatabe said Wednesday.
   The upcoming assessment will focus on "how to be nimble in conducting effective monetary easing while taking care of costs," Wakatabe said in an online lecture.
   Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Wakatabe pointed to downside risks to the economy, but noted, "The economy has not returned to deflation despite a significant decline in economic activity."
   He said the start of vaccinations against the coronavirus in some countries is "encouraging," although there are uncertainties about the pace of vaccine distribution and the effects of vaccines.
   At an online press conference later on Wednesday, Wakatabe suggested that the assessment of the easing policy will be aimed at securing policy flexibility so that the BOJ can swiftly respond to future crises.