--
[Asahi Noguchi: The Bank of Japan "Needs to Raise Interest Rates More Than Ever"] Odaily Planet Daily reported that Bank of Japan Policy Board member Asahi Noguchi stated on Monday that the central bank "needs to raise interest rates more than ever" as the upside risks to the economy and prices outweigh the downside risks. "Various economic indicators in Japan show steady progress toward achieving the Bank of Japan's 2% inflation target," Noguchi said in a speech. (Jin10)