Bank of Japan keeps key rate unchanged at 0.1 percent

TOKYO: Japan's central bank on Friday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.1 percent, as widely expected, maintaining its easy policy stance to help boost Japan's economic recovery.

"Japan's economy faces the critical challenge of overcoming deflation and returning to a sustainable growth path with price stability," the Bank of Japan said in its statement.

"It was confirmed at the meeting that, in the conduct of monetary policy, the bank would aim to maintain the extremely accommodative financial environment."

The decision was unanimously supported by eight members at the central bank's one-day board meeting.