Japan's central bank left its super-low interest rates unchanged on Friday as the government declared for the first time in more than three years that Asia's biggest economy is in a phase of deflation.

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Japanese Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii said on Thursday he was watching bond market moves very carefully as yield rises that are not driven by a strong economy are damaging to growth.

The acceleration of Japan's economy to the fastest growth pace in more than two years masked a slide in prices of goods and services that threatens to temper the nation's recovery.

Japan's economy expanded at the fastest pace in more than two years in the third quarter, led by a rebound in domestic demand that may ease concern of a return to recession next year.

Japan's trade minister apologized on Monday for disclosing market-sensitive GDP figures in a speech to business executives ahead of their official release, raising questions about the new government's handling of sensitive information.

The yen is poised for its worst tumble since 2005 as doubts about Japan's fiscal footing double the cost of insuring its debt.

The yen may fall against the dollar as Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii won't “tolerate” a stronger currency, according to UBS AG.

Japan Airlines said Friday it racked up a US$1.5 billion loss and was seeking government help to fend off creditors as the beleaguered carrier struggles to recover from the travel industry's deepest slump in years.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average may fall to 8,000 yen by February because of a weaker-than- anticipated economic recovery, said Fumiyuki Nakanishi, a strategist at Tokyo-based SMBC Friend Securities Co.