Список проголосовавших за комментарий "pan, or BoJ, on Tuesday announced that it will expand the lending facility it introduced last summer to support recovery of the ailing economy.<br/> The bank also maintained its monetary policy stance by keeping the key interest rate near zero. <br/> <br/> Under the expanded facility, the central bank will lend upto JPY 500 billion. Each financial institution can borrow upto JPY 50 billion at an interest rate<br/> of 0.1 percent per annum for a maximum duration of four years. <br/> <br/> At the same time, the policymakers at the central bank unanimously decided to maintain its benchmark uncollateralized overnight call rate at a range of<br/> zero to 0.1 percent as expected. <br/> <br/> «With a view to further encourage financial institutions' efforts, the bank deems it appropriate to focus on supporting their provision of equity-like funds<br/> and loans without conventional collateral or guarantees,» the central bank said in a statement. <br/> <br/> The bank said it expects today's decision to enhance further the financial institutions' efforts to strengthen the foundations for economic growth through<br/> the use of a wider range of financial techniques. <br/> <br/> Meanwhile, the central bank upgraded its assessment of the economy for the first time since February, saying that Japan's economy continues to face downward<br/> pressure, but is showing some signs of picking up. <br/> <br/> The bank forecasts the economy to return to a moderate recovery path in the second half of fiscal 2011, backed by an increase in exports, and added that<br/> the household and business sentiment are improving somewhat. Going forward, the annual rate of change in the consumer price index will remain slightly<br/> positive, according to BoJ. <br/> <br/> However, it reiterated that there is high degree of uncertainty about the effects of the earthquake disaster on Japan's economy. <br/> <br/> Immediately after the deadly earthquake in March, the central bank injected record cash into the system to stabilize the markets. BoJ also acted swiftly<br/> to double the size of the asset purchase program to JPY 10 trillion. <br/> <br/> In a report last week, the International Monetary Fund urged the Bank of Japan to accelerate and expand its asset purchase program to guard against deflation<br/> risks and support the recovery. <br/> <br/> A preliminary report released last month showed Gross Domestic Product declining 3.7 percent annually in the first quarter, while it was down an annualized<br/> 0.9 percent sequentially."