Negative rates unlikely tool for central banks combating pandemic - ex-BOJ official

TOKYO (Reuters) - Adopting or deepening negative interest rates is an unlikely option for many central banks, including in Japan, particularly when they need the help of commercial banks to pump funds to firms hit by the coronavirus pandemic, former Bank of Japan policymaker Sayuri Shirai said.The BOJ and the European Central Bank have negative interest rates in place to stimulate their economies, though the policy has been criticised as eroding financial institutions' profits and discouraging..