1st LD: Bank of Japan raises policy rate to 0.25 pct

TOKYO, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Japan's central bank on Wednesday decided to raise its short-term interest rates to 0.25 percent from the range of zero and 0.1 percent, local media reported.

The second policy rate hike this year, which was announced after a two-day monetary policy meeting, marked the first "additional rate hike" since February 2007, national broadcaster NHK reported.

The Bank of Japan also dec