Japan’s regional bank lobby on Wednesday called on the central bank to focus on the rising costs of prolonged monetary easing, underlining the challenge for policymakers trying to weather growing risks to the world’s third-biggest economy. Simmering Sino-U.S. trade tensions and slowing global demand have heightened market expectations the Bank of Japan will maintain its massive stimulus program, with some investors betting its next move could be to ramp up monetary support. Takashige Shibato, head of the Regional Banks Association of Japan, said the BOJ’s ultra-loose policy likely helped the economy achieve one of ... (full story)