The Japanese yen has reached its lowest point against the US dollar since 1986, causing worry among traders and leading to discussions about possible government intervention. On Wednesday, the yen experienced a slight decline of 0.6 per cent, reaching ¥160.65 against the dollar. This substantial decrease exceeds the level seen in late April when Japan’s finance ministry intervened, allocating a record ¥9.8 trillion ($62 billion) to strengthen the currency.
Government Response and Market Speculation
Masato Kanda, Japan’s top currency official, has expressed the government’s deep concern regarding the yen’s decline and has suggested that there may be appropriate measures to address any “excessive” movements. Derek Halpenny, the head of research at MUFG, indicated that if there were to be a sudden increase to ¥162, it might lead to another intervention from the government. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida faces a challenge as the weak yen increases living costs, just as he seeks support for the upcoming Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election in September.
Understanding the Reasons for the Yen’s Decrease
This year, the yen has experienced a 12 per cent depreciation against the dollar. This decline is primarily driven by diminished expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, which have strengthened the US currency. Despite the Bank of Japan’s decision to end eight years of negative interest rates in March, it continues to exercise caution when raising Japanese borrowing costs. The ongoing disparity in interest rates between the US and Japan remains a significant factor influencing the performance of the yen.
Experts caution that authorities may be cautious about taking further action, considering the limited lasting effects of previous interventions. Themos Fiotakis, the head of global FX at Barclays, noted that the previous significant spending had a temporary effect, suggesting that similar interventions may not happen soon. Continued disparities in interest rates between the US and Japan are expected to maintain downward pressure on the yen.
Timing is crucial when considering the possibility of intervention.
Japanese officials have typically taken action in response to significant drops in the market rather than more gradual declines. It is speculated by certain analysts that the government may choose to delay any actions until after the upcoming elections in France and the release of US economic data, which has the potential to bolster the yen. Halpenny noted the potential impact of the French election on yen-buying, should it result in a substantial decline in the euro. In addition, the upcoming US payrolls report could potentially allow the yen to recover some of its strength.
In summary
With the yen’s ongoing decline against the dollar, the Japanese government is under increasing pressure to take action. Given the track record of past interventions, it is clear that the success of future actions will heavily depend on their timing and strategy. The future of the yen’s trajectory will be heavily influenced by the ongoing economic and political developments in Japan and around the world.