Japan's annual wholesale inflation held steady at 3.8% in December on stubbornly high food costs, data showed on Thursday, highlighting persistent price pressures that may prod the central bank to raise interest rates next week.

The deputy governor said the bank will discuss whether to raise the policy rate or not at the meeting, based on the latest outlook on the economy and prices.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Wednesday the bank will debate whether to raise its key rate at its policy meeting next week a

The remarks, which echo those made by BOJ Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino on Tuesday, pushed up the yen as markets continued to price in the chance of a rate hike at the bank's next policy meeting on Jan. 23-24.

T he Bank of Japan’s Deputy Governor, Ryozo Himino, has hinted at a potential interest rate hike during the upcoming policy meeting on January 23-24. In an interview last Friday