MNI BRIEF: BOJ Kuroda: Must Protect Firms, Employment

It is important to support all businesses impacted by Covid-19 currently facing financing difficulties and provide an environment where they can quickly restart their businesses, Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda told business leaders in Nagoya City via an online conference.

Kuroda noted the continued uncertainty for both the economic and inflation outlook, saying risks were skewed to the downside, but underlined that the BOJ would not hesitate to take additional measures if necessary.

He also noted that attention must be paid "to the possibility that the financial system will be affected if the economy deteriorates more than expected. The BOJ will continue to closely examine developments in economic activity and prices as well as financial conditions."