The Bank of Japan, beset by inflation and a weak yen, made a move higher and lifted rates to levels not seen since 1995.

For most analysts, it was a ¡°done deal¡± ahead of the actual decision given the market¡¯s growing impatience with wait and see and a growing sense in Japan that prices are simply rising too fast.

At a two-day policy meeting that ended Tuesday, the central bank voted to raise its policy rate ¡ª the uncollateralized overnight call rate ¡ª to 1% from 0.75%.