The Bank of Japan will raise interest rates at its upcoming December meeting, according to a slim majority of economists in a Reuters poll, pushing through with its aim of normalising monetary policy, backed by the yen's recent decline. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a proponent of expansionary fiscal and monetary policy who came into office a month ago, has urged the BOJ to cooperate with government efforts to reflate the economy and to tread cautiously in hiking rates. Still, economists say the conditions for a rate hike are falling into place, with the yen's depreciation strengthening the case. The yen this week ... (full story)