Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda has hinted at a possible exit from negative interest rate policy in the coming months, if data comes in strong enough.

“It is not impossible that we will have enough information and data by the end of this year,” Ueda said in comments to newspaper the Yomiuri Shimbun.

Ueda said a key element will be continued increases in wages, as well as sustained inflation. If the outlook for the spring is strong, the central bank could move its policy rate out of negative