TOKYO, May 12 - Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said on Monday that the central bank must pay close attention to the risks facing the economy.
He also said in a speech in Tokyo that while the BOJ would raise interest rates if uncertainties over the economy cleared, it would be appropriate to keep rates on hold -- or even cut them -- if the economy were hurt by rising energy prices.
"We are now at the stage where we need to pay utmost attention to the downside risks to the economy," Shirakawa said.
