TOKYO -- Market expectations for an interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan this week have receded significantly as a fragile U.S. economy and a new Japanese administration throw up roadblocks.

Takaichi vs. Ueda: While concerns over "the Trump tariffs" have somewhat eased, domestic politics are now creating complexities. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Suzuki, Seiko Ota and Akira Kodaka)
Volatile yen and fragile US economy weigh on Japanese central bank decision