BoJ risks roiling markets with traders underprepared

Hot seat: People walk in front of the BoJ building in Tokyo. Economists say there is a prospect of the central bank ending negative interest rates this month. — Reuters

Tokyo: The risk of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) roiling markets in March appears to be increasing, with economists on high alert for a policy shift after some traders dialled back their bets in recent months.

Traders of overnight indexed swaps (OIS) – who last year were certain that the central bank would end its negative-interest-rate policy by the March 18-19 gathering – now see the chances around 34%.