TOKYO (Reuters) -The Bank of Japan holds its final policy meeting for the year next week with its decision to be announced just hours after that of the U.S. Federal Reserve's expected interest rate cut.Here is a guide on what to expect and why the BOJ's rate review matters:IS BOJ GOING TO RAISE INTEREST RATES?The BOJ ended negative interest rates in March and raised its short-term policy target to 0.25% in July. It has signaled readiness to hike again if wages and prices move as projected.There is growing conviction within the BOJ that conditions for another hike to 0.5% are falling into place. The economy is expanding moderately, wages are rising steadily and inflation remains above its 2% target for well over two years.But BOJ policymakers appear to be in no rush to pull the trigger with the yen's rebound moderating inflationary pressure and uncertainty surrounding U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's policies clouding the economic outlook.The decision on whether to hike in December, or wait until a subsequent meeting on Jan. 23-24, will be a close call and dependent on how convinced each board member is that Japan will durably hit the bank's 2% inflation target.WHAT HAVE BOJ POLICYMAKERS SAID SO FAR?BOJ policymakers are keeping their cards close to their chests on the timing of the next rate hike. In a recent media interview, Governor Kazuo Ueda said another rate hike was approaching, but gave no clear signs it could come this month.investing.com