BOJ's Suda: Natural to consider interest rate hike

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MIYAZAKI, Japan, March 27 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan policy board member Miyako Suda said on Thursday it was natural for the central bank to consider hiking interest rates given that monetary conditions are very accommodative.

But Suda added that it was time to carefully examine both upside and downside risks without preconceptions because financial markets remain unstable and the outlook for the economy is uncertain.

Suda, a former economics professor, was among the three board members who in January 2007 voted for a rate hike, which was opposed by the majority of the board. (Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Hugh Lawson)