UPDATE 3-BOJ's Shirakawa reassures markets low rates to stay
(For more stories on the Japanese economy click [ID:nECONJP])
* Repeats to stick to very easy monetary policy
* Risks to Japan economy becoming more evenly balanced
* Downward price pressure to persist for some time
* Defends BOJ growth forecasts when criticised as too strong (Adds Shirakawa comments on parliament)
By Leika Kihara
TOKYO, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan will keep interest rates near zero even as downside risks to the economy subside, the central bank governor said, reassuring investors its withdrawal from credit markets does not signal an exit from its ultra-easy monetary policy.
The BOJ last week decided to begin withdrawing from credit markets but extended a key loan scheme, earning grudging backing from the finance minister, who had criticised the central bank's economic outlook as too optimistic. [ID:nT32693]
BOJ Governor Masaaki Shirakawa told a forum on Wednesday that stronger growth than expected in emerging nations meant risks to Japan's economy had become more evenly balanced than early in the year, when the BOJ was focusing on risks to growth from the global recession and financial market turmoil. Continued...
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