JGB yields fall as traders brace for landmark BOJ shift

TOKYO, March 18 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond yields declined on Monday, ahead of a key Bank of Japan policy decision the following day when the central bank is widely expected to exit ultra-easy stimulus.

The Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday that the BOJ would exit negative short-term interest rate policy (NIRP) on Tuesday, following substantial pay hikes by big firms in this year's wage negotiations.

Several other local and international media have also reported over the past week of the likelihood of an imminent stimulus exit. Reuters reported that the central bank was likely to remove its long-term yield curve control policy (YCC) at the same time as ending NIRP.

The 10-year JGB yield lost 2 basis points (bps) to 0.765% as of 0230 GMT, while benchmark 10-year JGB futures rose 0.21 yen to 145.31. Bond yields fall when prices rise.

"It's kind of buy the fact," said Shoki Omori, chief Japan desk strategist at Mizuho Securities. "All the information is basically out, so people are no longer scared about what the BOJ will do tomorrow."

While the 10-year yield may jump above 0.8% initially following the BOJ policy decision, demand for bonds from life insurers and other long-term investors into Japan's fiscal year-end this month could push it as low as 0.7% ultimately, Omori said.

Yields may also have been helped lower on Monday by the BOJ's announcement of an unscheduled 3 trillion yen ($20.1 billion)bond repurchase agreement, which analysts said was aimed at providing liquidity during the period covering the bank's own and the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy decisions, with the latter coming on a Japanese public holiday on Wednesday.

The 20-year JGB yield fell 2.5 bps to 1.535% on Monday, and the 30-year slid 3.5 bps to 1.815%. Two-year and five-year JGB yields, however, were flat at 0.185% and 0.380%, respectively.

"A surge in yields is kind of unlikely now" on Tuesday, with an exit from NIRP and YCC "basically a done deal," said Naka Matsuzawa, chief Japan macro strategist at Nomura.

The only uncertainty is whether the central bank keeps its commitment to expanding the monetary base, Matsuzawa added.

"A lot of people expect that to be dropped, myself included," he said. "If they keep it, it will be a dovish surprise." ($1 = 149.1800 yen) (Reporting by Kevin Buckland; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)