TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - Bank of Japan governor Masaru Hayami said he has not received any request from the finance minister to increase monthly outright purchases of government bonds. "I have not yet heard about that from the ministry," Hayami told reporters in parliament. "That matter will be decided at the BoJ's policy board meeting." However, he added that he is not sure whether the discussion will take place at the meeting due at the end of February. "The BoJ will continue its utmost efforts to stabilise the financial markets and deepen the effects of the current monetary easing from now. The BoJ will continue the current monetary easing policy to prevent deflation," he said. Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said this morning that the government hopes the bank will help prevent deflation by raising its monthly outright purchases of government bonds to 1 trln yen from the current 800 bln.