BOJ chief downplays deflation risk, sticks to inflation target

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said lower energy costs may push consumer prices into negative territory but it won't derail a pick-up in inflation as the economy recovers, signaling that he sees no immediate need to expand stimulus. Nearly two years into his tenure, Kuroda continues to wrestle with weak prices that have kept alive expectations the central bank will ease again this year to reach its 2 percent inflation target. The BOJ maintained its massive stimulus program on Tuesda