Overview

• The Bank of Japan is expected to end its negative interest rate policy next week, influenced by substantial wage increases during this year's negotiations.
• Japan's largest companies have agreed to the biggest pay raises in 33 years, fueling the policy change.
• The decision follows internal preparations since Kazuo Ueda's tenure as BOJ governor began last year, signaling a move away from the bank's massive stimulus program.
• A Reuters poll shows a growing expectation among economists for the BOJ to end negative rates at its upcoming meeting, with some predicting a shift as early as this month.
• The policy change would mark Japan's first interest rate hike since 2007, ending eight years of negative interest rates.