“Judging solely from the perspective of Japan’s economic conditions, it may be time to consider raising the policy interest rate again, given that it has been more than six months since the last rate hike,” one opinion was quoted as saying. Sign Up Sign UpThe dissent by board members Hajime Takata and Naoki Tamura was seen by markets as a prelude to a near-term increase in borrowing costs. In a speech on Monday, dovish member Asahi Noguchi said the need for a rate hike was increasing “more than ever.”Markets are now pricing in roughly a 60 per cent chance of a rate hike at the BOJ’s next meeting on Oct 29-30. Investors are focusing on the BOJ’s “tankan” quarterly business survey, due on Wednesday, and Governor Kazuo Ueda’s speech on Friday, for clues on the timing of the next rate hike. “A rate hike at this point, which would come as a surprise to the market, should be avoided,” another opinion showed.