日銀、大規模緩和を維持＝黒田総裁、追加緩和「前向き」－次回に経済・物価再点検

　日銀は１９日の金融政策決定会合で、現在の大規模緩和を据え置くとともに、１０月の次回会合で経済・物価動向を再点検する方針を決めた。記者会見した黒田東彦総裁は、追加緩和について「（７月の）前回会合より前向きかと言われればその通り」と述べ、次回会合で検討する可能性を示唆した。
　米国と欧州の中央銀行が相次ぎ利下げに踏み切る中、日銀としては景気に悪影響を及ぼしかねない消費税増税を控えて、追加策を温存した格好。それでも近い将来の追加緩和の可能性を示すことで、金融市場の緩和期待をつなぎ留める狙いがありそうだ。
　黒田総裁は会見で、「今の時点で、先行きの景気が後退したり物価上昇の勢いが失われる状況ではない」としながらも、「海外経済中心に下振れリスクが高まっている」と指摘。最新の経済・物価情勢の展望（展望リポート）を取りまとめる次回会合で、「改めてしっかり点検する」と強調した。（2019/09/19-19:52）

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Thursday sounded more positive on the central bank taking additional monetary easing steps.
   "If asked whether I'm more positive (about additional easing) than when the bank held the previous monetary policy meeting (in July), I'd say 'yes,'" Kuroda told a news conference held after the BOJ's two-day policy meeting through the day, suggesting the central bank may discuss the advisability of taking further easing steps at its next policymaking meeting in late October.
   At the latest meeting, the BOJ decided to leave its current massive easing policy unchanged and "reexamine economic and price developments" at the Oct. 30-31 meeting.
   The decision followed recent interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank. By hinting at additional easing, the BOJ is apparently aiming to let financial market participants sustain their hopes for action by the Japanese central bank.
   "At the moment, we're not in a situation to see economy outlooks weaken or the momentum of price rises be lost," Kuroda said, while noting that "downward risks are growing, mainly in overseas economies."