The Nikkei writes "the BOJ appears poised to....>

BOJ: The Nikkei writes "the BOJ appears poised to cut its assessments of exports

and industrial production during this week's policy meeting, a change driven

largely by China's economic slump. "We have no choice but to recognize that

recent export and production trends are weak," said a top official at the

central bank, a view echoed by other senior officers there. In January, exports

dropped 5.2% from the previous month in real terms, according to BOJ data, and

the economy ministry's index of industrial production shrank for a third

straight month. The central bank said at its January policy meeting that both

exports and industrial production were "on an increasing trend," but it is

considering revising that language during the two-day meeting ending Friday.

China's economic slowdown and Sino-U.S. trade frictions are major factors, along

with a correction in the tech sector. "China's regional economies have been

decelerating because of the crackdown on shadow banking," said a source at the

BOJ. "The downside risks to the global economy are gradually gaining strength,"

a senior central bank official said. Despite these warning signs, the BOJ is

expected to maintain the stance that Japan's economy is expanding moderately."