Markets have also focused on a speech by Ueda’s deputy last week that was widely interpreted as suggesting conditions would now justify an increase. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond rose to 1.25 per cent — the highest since April 2011 — in the wake of his comments.

The Bank of Japan is likely to raise rates at its January 24 meeting following recent supportive comments from BoJ governor Kazuo Ueda and deputy Ryozo Himino. Good wage and inflation data underpin normalisation efforts.