The Bank of Japan, after clearly signalling last week's interest rate hike, may return to its accustomed fuzzy guidance about central bank policy to maintain flexibility when it eventually begins to consider how much tightening is enough.

World shares advanced Friday after U.S. stocks rose to a record and the Bank of Japan raised its key lending rate.

The Bank of Japan has raised short-term interest rates by a quarter point, the highest in 17 years, signalling efforts to normalise monetary policy in response to persistent inflation and increasing wages.

The BOJ fumbled its communication in December, surprising investors, but then telegraphed Friday's increase so unambiguously that the rate hike was 90% priced in.

The Bank of Japan, after clearly signalling last week's interest rate hike, may return to its accustomed fuzzy guidance about central bank policy to maintain flexibility when it eventually begins to consider how much tightening is enough.

Giving explicit advance signals, in addition to making the Bank of Japan feel boxed in, could breach Japanese law stipulating the nine-member board must debate and sign off on rate decisions at each policy meeting.

The Bank of Japan raised its key policy rate to the highest level since 2008 and took a more bullish view on the strength of inflation.

The Bank of Japan delivered a widely expected 25 basis point hike to its key lending rate on Friday, bringing the overnight call rate to the highest since 2008 and putting pressure on the dollar. The ICE Dollar Index slipped 0.

Bank of Japan goes through with planned rate increase, saying president is acting within expectations.

The Bank of Japan raised interest rates on Friday to their highest since the 2008 global financial crisis and revised up its inflation forecasts, underscoring its confidence that rising wages will keep inflation stable around its 2% target.

Top News Bank of Japan Resumes Hiking Rates as Economy Strengthens The Bank of Japan raised its target for the overnight call rate to 0.5% from 0.25%, making its third rate hike since ending its long-running negative interest-rate policy in March. The bank previously raised the policy rate to 0.25% in July and had kept it at that level since.