The Bank of Japan has opted to hold short-term interest rates, pointing to a moderate recovery in the economy but warning that “high uncertainties” remain in the outlook for activity and prices. In a widely expected decision on Friday,

The decision came as the central bank seeks to wean its economy off the long-held ultra-easy monetary policy and curb the yen’s slide against the U.S. dollar.

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady today and revised up its assessment on consumption, signalling its confidence a solid economic recovery would allow the central bank to raise interest rates again in coming months.