Tokyo  - The Bank of Japan (BOJ) decided Tuesday to maintain its key interest rate unchanged at 0.5 per cent.

The central bank's policy board voted unanimously at the end of a two-day meeting to forego an interest hike due to unstable global economy and uncertainty over the nation's economic growth.

BOJ last raised the interest rate by 0.25 points in February 2007 to the current rate. (dpa)