Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda reiterated that the central bank is prepared to step up stimulus if needed, while noting again that so-called helicopter money is prohibited. “We have said we will check risks in the economy and prices and expand monetary stimulus if it’s needed to achieve our price stability target at the earliest time possible,” Kuroda told reporters on Saturday in Chengdu, China, where he’s attending a Group of 20 meeting. Speaking less than a week before the next BOJ policy decision, he said he would present an assessment of Japan’s economy and monetary policy to his counterparts. Most ... (full story)