The Bank of Japan raised interest rates on Friday to their highest since the 2008 global financial crisis, underscoring its confidence that rising wages will keep inflation stable around its 2% target.

Japan's central bank has raised its key interest rate to about 0.5% from 0.25%, noting that inflation is holding at a desirable target level.

The Bank of Japan raised its key policy rate to the highest level since 2008 and took a more bullish view on the strength of inflation.

Japan's central bank raised interest rates to their highest since the 2008 global financial crisis and revised up its inflation forecasts.

In the eyes of Japanese economic policymakers, there have been few surprises from the nearly week-old Trump administration. That, in part, gave them confidence to raise interest rates again Friday. Why it matters: The Bank of Japan had held off hiking rates late last year,

The Bank of Japan increased interest rates on Friday to their highest in 17 years and signalled more hikes to come, sending the yen higher against the dollar.