BOJ keeps rates steady at 0.5 percent as expected

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TOKYO, June 13 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan left its interest rate target unchanged at 0.50 percent on Friday, as widely expected, in a unanimous vote.

The BOJ has kept monetary policy unchanged since raising the overnight call rate target from 0.25 percent in February last year.

The central bank will release its monthly economic report at 3 p.m. (0600 GMT) and Governor Masaaki Shirakawa will hold a news conference from 3:30 p.m. (0630 GMT).

The nine-member BOJ policy board currently has two vacancies, including one for a deputy governor. (Reporting by Leika Kihara)