At the Monetary Policy Meeting held on January 22 and 23, 2018, the Policy Board of the Bank of Japan made the following decisions. The Bank will continue to encourage financial institutions', firms' and households' actions, with a view to stimulating bank lending and strengthening the foundations for economic growth, and to support financial institutions in disaster areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake in their efforts in meeting the demand for funds for rebuilding. With regard to the Loan Support Program, the Bank revised the framework in March 2014 (Note) . As there ... (full story)