TOKYO (AP) — The Bank of Japan decided Tuesday to keep its benchmark rate unchanged at 0.75% amid growing worries about the war in Iran pushing prices of oil and other products higher.
The decision from Japan’s central bank was expected, though the 6-3 vote by its monetary policy board members was not unanimous. They face pressure to gradually raise rates after years of keeping the benchmark interest rate near or below zero to counter deflationary pressures.
The Bank of Japan said that while the economy was still growing moderately it was expected to slow.
“There are various risks to the outlook,” it said in a statement. “For the time being it is necessary to pay particular attention to the impact of the future course of the situation in the Middle East.”
The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed due to the war. With few ships able to cross the strait, through which about 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes, oil and gasoline prices are skyrocketing and jet fuel, cooking gas and other energy products are starting to become scarce in parts of the world.
Japan depends heavily on oil from the Middle East to power its economy.
The U.S. Federal Reserve and central banks in Europe are also meeting on interest rates this week.
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 share index dipped more than 1% after the BOJ’s decision.
Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama
People past an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) —
Vegas' Brett Howden scored on a tip-in with 9:35 remaining in the third period as the Golden Knights and the Utah Mammoth played to a 4-4 tie through regulation Monday night in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series.
Utah leads in the series 2-1.
The Golden Knights raced out to a 3-0 lead with two goals in the first and one early in the second by Pavel Dorofeyev, Brett Howden, and Cole Smith.
Utah countered with four straight scores, capped by Clayton Keller’s wrist shot off a deflection for a 4-3 lead at the 5:10 mark of the third period.
Utah's Karel Vejmelka had 24 stops in the first three periods. Carter Hart had 18 saves for Vegas in regulation.
Facing a three-goal deficit, Utah's Nick Schmaltz and Ian Cole scored 29 seconds apart in the second period to set the Mammoth's comeback in motion. Schmaltz got Utah on the board at the 8:04 mark, and Cole followed with a 50-foot slapshot at 8:33 of the second.
Michael Carcone tied it on another slapshot at 1:44 of the third.
Dorofeyev flicked home a wrist shot to put the Golden Knights in front just 72 seconds into the first. Howden then threaded another wrist shot past Vejmelka’s skate for a short-handed goal with 1:22 left in the period.
Smith’s tip-in at 3:27 of the second gave the Golden Knights their third goal.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday night in Las Vegas.
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) and Utah Mammoth right wing JJ Peterka (77) look to play the puck along the boards during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka blocks the puck with his stick during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart protects the net during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
