BOJ policymakers warned of darkening global outlook, meeting summary shows

• Several Bank of Japan policymakers warned the global economic outlook was worsening, a summary of opinions at the bank's December rate review showed on Friday.
• They also suggested recent oil price falls could further delay achievement of their 2 percent inflation target.

A woman walks under a heavy rain in Kagoshima, on Kyushu island, on September 30, 2018.

BEHROUZ MEHRI | AFP | Getty Images

Several Bank of Japan policymakers warned the global economic outlook was worsening and recent oil price falls could further delay achievement of their 2 percent inflation target, a summary of opinions at the bank's December rate review showed on Friday.

"Uncertainty over the global economic outlook is heightening. Given such conditions are likely to persist, risks are generally skewed to the downside," one member was quoted as saying.

At the December meeting, the BOJ kept monetary policy steady but its governor warned of heightening risks to the economic outlook as fears of a slowdown in global growth rattled markets.