India, March 19 -- The Bank of Japan left its interest rate unchanged after hiking the rate by a quarter-point early this year, amid rising concerns about the US trade policies and its impact on economic activity and prices.

At a two-day meeting that ended on Wednesday, the policy board, governed by Kazuo Ueda, unanimously decided to maintain the uncollateralized overnight call rate at around 0.5 percent, which was the highest level since the global financial crisis in 2008.

The bank had raised the benchmark rate to the current level from 0.25 percent in January.

"Concerning risks to the outlook, there remain high uncertainties surrounding Japan's economic activity and prices, including the evolving situation regarding trade and other po...