Bank of Japan has 'limited' options to spur growth

The Bank of Japan has "pretty limited" options if the trade friction between China and the U.S. becomes worse, said the chief Japan strategist at Goldman Sachs, Kathy Matsui.

The Bank of Japan likely heaved a sigh of relief following Friday's strong economic numbers, but the central bank will have to remain "on guard and prepared to do more" amid the present global uncertainty, said the chief Japan strategist at Goldman Sachs, Kathy Matsui.

However, the BOJ has "pretty limited" options if the trade friction between China and the U.S. becomes worse, according to Matsui.

Japan reported Friday that gross domestic product grew at an annualized rate of 1.8% in the second quarter which ended in June, preliminary data from the Cabinet Office showed. It was much better than a median forecast for a 0.4% growth.

It comes at a time when short-term interest rates in Japan has been unchanged at - 0.1% since the BOJ adopted negative interest rates in January 2016. The country's central bank has been struggling to meet an elusive inflation target of 2%.

In late July, the bank said it "will not hesitate to take additional easing measures" if the economy loses momentum as it seeks to achieve the target inflation rate.

"If the yen were to appreciate much further, let's say (it) breaks the 100 barrier (against the dollar), I think that could force the BOJ's hand to do something more," Matsui told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Friday.

That comes against a backdrop of central banks across the region - from India to New Zealand and Thailand - cutting interest rates this week amid concerns over the outlook for economic growth.

"They (Japan) obviously can take negative rates even further to negative territory but that is not without any cost," Matsui said.

That cost would be borne by the country's banking system, whose net interest margins are "already suffering" as a result of negative interest rates being set for a prolonged period of time, she added.

"In terms of what stimulus options the government has, rather than monetary (policy), I think it's gonna be very much leaning on fiscal (policy) going forward," Matsui said, indicating the government may have to turn to taxes and spending to spur the economy.

Lender Security Bank Corp. (SBC) has teamed up with Bank of Ayudhya, the fifth largest financial group in Thailand and a member of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) network, in the consumer finance business.

SBC agreed to sell a 50 percent stake in its consumer finance unit SB Finance ( SBF) Co. to Bank of Ayudhya, commonly known as Krungsri.