BOJ Shirakawa:new step broadly quantitative easing

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TOKYO Dec 1 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said the new operation the central bank announced on Tuesday could be considered quantitative easing in a broad sense.

"We can say this is quantitative easing in the broad sense that we are trying to ensure banks are not faced with (liquidity) constraints," Shirakawa said after the central bank held an emergency policy meeting.

The BOJ said it would pump more cash into the banking system after the meeting, which it called in the face of political pressure to help fight deflation and avert recession before upper house polls next year. [ID:nT374859] (Reporting by Hideyuki Sano and Tetsushi Kajimoto) ((tetsushi.kajimoto@thomsonreuters.com; +81 3 6441-1829; Reuters Messaging: tetsushi.kajimoto.reuters.com@reuters.net)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com))