Bank of America has revised its forecast for a rate rise by the Bank of Japan from March to January, or this week. It now expects the BoJ to raise rates by 25 basis points to 0.50 per cent at its policy meeting this Friday. A rate rise in March had previously been BofA's preferred forecast because it gave the BoJ more time to assess the policies of the new US administration. However, strong price data and the possibility that the BoJ board will need to revise its inflation forecast prompted the bank to revise its rate rise forecast to January. Recent hawkish comments from senior officials, including BoJ governor Kazuo Ueda and deputy governor Ryozumi Himi-Nono, also contributed to the change, BofA added. (Kim Ten)