The Bank of Japan will raise interest rates again at one of the two meetings this quarter to 0.50%, an overwhelming majority of economists surveyed by Reuters said, with most leaning toward a January move.

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda said at an event on Wednesday that the BOJ will raise rates next week if economic indicators show improvement. He added that he is aware of "many positive stories" of higher wages.

Governor Kazuo Ueda yesterday joined his deputy in raising market expectations of a potential interest rate hike next week, boosting the yen and signaling the central bank is doing its utmost to avoid a global market crash that followed the rate hike in July last year.