Fresh monetary easing exposes cracks in Japan’s growth blitz

TOKYO: The Bank of Japan’s surprise move to inflate its already huge stimulus program exposes the cracks in Tokyo’s plan to conquer deflation and boost growth, economists say, but it may give the government room to hike sales taxes again.

On Friday, the central bank said it would widen its asset-buying plan by as much as 20 trillion yen ($182 billion), bringing it to an eye-popping 80 trillion yen annually, sending the yen into a freefall and stocks soaring.