BOJ will debate feasibility, timing of rate hike in upcoming meetings, Governor Ueda says

TOKYO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Friday the central bank will discuss at upcoming policy meetings the feasibility and timing of an interest rate hike with a focus on data offering clues on next year's wage momentum.

"We wanted to spend a bit more time to confirm whether firms' active wage-setting behaviour won't be disrupted," Ueda told parliament, when asked why the BOJ decided to hold off on raising interest rates in October.

The BOJ was still in the midst of collecting such data, Ueda said. "We want to use at the next meeting and onward information we gather, not just generally available ones but those we collect from our branches nationwide," Ueda added.