NEW LEADER COMPLICATES BOJ RATE HIKESUpon winning the race, Takaichi made clear the government will take the lead in setting fiscal and monetary policy - and that her priority would be to reflate demand and the broader economy. Her ascension makes it more likely the Bank of Japan will refrain from raising rates on October 30, analysts say. "Takaichi is not seen as supportive of interest rate hikes, which could make it more difficult for the BOJ to proceed with tightening," said Kazutaka Maeda, an economist at Meiji Yasuda Research Institute. "While rate hikes may not be ruled out entirely, the central bank could adopt a more cautious and gradual approach," he said, adding the next increase may be delayed until early next year. The BOJ ended decades of massive stimulus last year, raising its policy rate to 0.5% in January on the view Japan was on the cusp of durably achieving its 2% inflation target.