* reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url=cpurl://apps.cp./Apps/cb-polls?RIC=JPINTRQPBank of Japan policy poll data
* reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url=cpurl://apps.cp./Apps/econ-polls?RIC=JPGDPAPGDP poll data
* reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url=cpurl://apps.cp./Apps/econ-polls?RIC=JPCPIAPCore CPI poll data
By Kaori Kaneko
TOKYO, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The chances the Bank of Japaneases further have increased, according to over half ofeconomists polled by Reuters after the central bank last monthcommitted to expanding stimulus if a global slowdown derails theeconomic recovery here.
Should the Japanese currency strengthen to below 100 yen onthe dollar - which would hurt the nation's vital exporters -that could also prompt the central bank to loosen policyfurther, many analysts said. The yen firmed to a seven-monthhigh this week.
Last month, the BOJ said it would ease policy "withouthesitation" if overseas risks prolong and threaten the economy'smomentum to hit its price goal.
"The BOJ shifted to a preemptive easing stance," saidHiroshi Ugai, chief economist at JPMorgan Securities Japan.
"The BOJ is now willing to ease in response to risks ofweakening momentum, rather than waiting for hard evidenceindicating a loss of inflation momentum."
Asked if chances of the central bank easing further hadincreased after its July policy meeting, 21 of 38 economists inthe Aug. 2-13 poll answered "yes" and 17 said "no".
Figures out Friday showed Japan's economy expanded fasterthan expected, growing at an annual pace of 1.8% in the secondquarter on healthy consumer spending and business investmenteven though exports struggled.
Still, the stronger yen and escalating U.S.-China trade warhave many experts worried. Most economists polled - 30 of 38 -predicted the BOJ's next move will be to ease.
"Share prices have fallen and yen has firmed on riskaversion recently due to the intensified U.S.-China tradefriction. If that continues, the BOJ will have to ease," saidYusuke Kaniwa, an economist at Hamagin Research Institute.
As for the timing of an easing move, 12 economists predictedit would happen as early as September and ten forecast October.Two expect in December, while three think sometime in the firsthalf of 2020 and two predict in 2021 or later.
Asked what easing steps the BOJ would take, 24 said thecentral bank would tweak its forward guidance. Currently itpromises to keep very low rates to spring 2020.
Fourteen economists forecast the BOJ would allow for greaterfluctuation in the 10-year Japanese government bond yield.
Three predicted the bank would further lower its negativeinterest rates and two said it would both reduce its minus 0.1%interest rates and 10-year JGB yield target from around 0%.
As for how much of a yen spike might cause the BOJ to ease,25 of 37 economists predicted a level below 100 yen to thedollar, while three said below 105 yen, four thought "beyond 103yen" and two said "beyond 98 yen".
Over the past six years, the central bank has been trying tospur inflation to 2% but economists said it would remain lessthan half that target for some time. Medians in the poll said itwould rise to 0.7% this fiscal year through March 2020 and thefollowing fiscal year.
As for their outlook for economic growth, the world'sthird-largest economy is seen growing 0.5% this fiscal yearafter shrinking an annualised 2.3% in the fourth quarter becauseof October's planned sales tax hike.
The economy will grow at the same pace in fiscal 2020, thepoll showed.
(For other stories from the Reuters global long-termeconomic outlook polls package see)
(Polling and reporting by Kaori KanekoAdditional polling by Khushboo Mittal in BENGALURU; Editing byMalcolm Foster & Shri Navaratnam)