Events

Bank of Japan · September 18 decision

BOJ raises rates to 1.25%

The Bank of Japan has announced a 25-basis-point increase in its overnight call-rate guideline, from around 1.0% to around 1.25%, by a 7–2 vote. The new guideline takes effect September 24, 2026. The governor’s press conference remains a separate event, scheduled for September 18 at 3:30 PM JST (2:30 AM EDT).

Last checked: Sep 18, 2026

Bank of Japan policy press conference

ConfirmedBefore market open

Your time

New York: Fri, Sep 18, 2026, 2:30 AM

Until the governor’s press conference

13d 17h 30m

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Official source

The decision is announced; the new rate starts September 24

The September 18 statement confirms the increase. Its effective date is September 24, so the announcement does not mean the new target applies immediately. A 25-basis-point rise is 0.25 percentage points.

The complementary deposit facility rate will be 1.25% and the basic loan rate 1.5%, also effective September 24. These facility rates serve different purposes from the overnight call-rate guideline. The policy vote was 7–2; July’s 8–1 vote belongs to the previous meeting.

Why U.S. stock investors watch the BOJ

Yen-funded carry trades borrow in yen to finance other investments. Changes in funding costs or the exchange rate can alter those positions’ economics. BIS research on August 2024 found that leveraged-position unwinds amplified market turbulence; that historical episode is context, not a forecast for this meeting.

For this decision, compare the policy message with subsequent yen, bond and equity-market moves. A hike alone does not determine whether U.S. stocks fall: expectations, positioning and other news also matter. No live market reaction is asserted here.

Official schedules and background research

What comes after the rate decision

01

September 24 implementation

The new 1.25% overnight guideline and deposit facility rate, and 1.5% basic loan rate, take effect on that date.

02

Further tightening remains conditional

The statement says policy rates will continue to rise in response to economic, price and financial conditions. It does not fix the next hike’s date or size.

03

The next documents

The September Summary of Opinions is scheduled for October 1 and the minutes for November 5. The next policy meeting is October 29–30.

BOJ meeting questions

Did the BOJ raise rates in September 2026?

Yes. On September 18 it voted 7–2 to raise the overnight call-rate guideline by 25 basis points, from around 1.0% to around 1.25%, effective September 24.

Is 3:30 PM JST the decision release time?

No. The decision has already been announced. That time is the scheduled September 18 governor’s press conference, equivalent to 06:30 UTC or 2:30 AM EDT.

When is the next BOJ meeting?

After September, the next scheduled monetary policy meeting is October 29–30, 2026.