Japan Fujii: BOJ looking at economy "in its own way"

TOKYO, Oct 27 - Japanese Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii said on Tuesday that while the Bank of Japan says the economy is improving, the central bank is looking at the economy "in its own way".

The Bank of Japan will consider whether to scrap some of its corporate funding support measures when its policy board meets on Friday. The measures are currently due to expire in December.

Fujii made the comment at a meeting of the heads of regional branches of the ministry.

The Bank of Japan has come under pressure from some cabinet ministers who worry that a quick exit from emergency steps to support corporate funding would hurt the fragile economy, just now emerging from its deepest recession in 60 years.

Analysts generally expect the central bank to let some steps expire by the end of the year, and whether the BOJ would let itself be swayed by government pressure is an open question.

Government jawboning has been known to prompt the BOJ to act in the past just to demonstrate its independence.