Currencies

Market watchers see BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda's recent comments as an effort to stem the yen's slide. (Photo by Yumi Kotani)
Bank of Japan

Yen, yields rise after BOJ's Ueda hints at end to negative rates

Central bank chief's remarks seen as stronger push against weakening currency

12 September 2023
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks at a group interview with reporters in Tokyo on May 25.
Economy

Japan's 10-year bond yield hits highest since 2014 on Ueda remark

BOJ chief's comment reinforces speculation about early lifting of negative rates

11 September 2023
China and Japan's holdings accounted for $1.94 trillion in Treasury securities as of June, roughly a quarter of the total held abroad. (Photo by Nikkei)
Bonds

Japan, China pare U.S. Treasury holdings as currencies hit new lows

Potential for yen intervention rises, while yuan paints different picture, analysts say

9 September 2023
The widening interest rate gap between China and the U.S. has helped push the yuan to its weakest point since late 2007.
Currencies

China's yuan slides near 16-year low as economy struggles

Strong dollar and shrinking trade surplus create headache for central bank

9 September 2023
The yen finds itself at the mercy of Bank of Japan policy and overseas investors eager to borrow currency at ultra-low interest rates while their home currencies are subject to rates almost 5 percentage points higher.
Currencies

Largest policy rate gap in 22 years pins yen near last year's low

Japan's currency ambassador steps up verbal fusillade, fueling war of nerves

7 September 2023
A gas station in Tokyo. Gasoline prices in Japan have been rising as the currency weakens and global oil prices also escalate. (Photo by Sato Nanami)
Inflation

Japan gasoline prices hit record high on weakening yen

Average retail price reached 185.6 yen per liter over week to Aug. 28

30 August 2023
Higher import costs have raised prices on Japanese supermarket shelves. (Photo by Makoto Okada)
Currencies

Yen's buying power sinks to 53-year low after decades of stagnation

Pricier imports squeeze Japan households while exports barely budge

30 August 2023
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a highly anticipated speech Friday morning at an economic summit in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Economy

Yen edges down as Fed's Powell says higher rates may be needed

Robust U.S. consumer spending, housing market threaten 2% target

26 August 2023
Companies like Komatsu, which has maintained a conservative exchange rate forecast, could see an even greater boost over the full fiscal year. (Photo by Nikkei)
Companies

Toyota, Komatsu and other Japan blue chips see $2bn profit gain on weak yen

Exporters and retailers enjoy windfall in second quarter

25 August 2023
The yen has weakened to the point at which the Japanese government and central bank intervened to shore up the currency last year. (Photo by Tsuyoshi Tamehiro)
Currencies

Yen tumbles to 146-range against dollar, hitting 9-month low

Japanese currency reaches level that triggered September 2022 intervention

17 August 2023
Purchasers of apartments at this unfinished condominium complex in Shanghai have threatened to boycott mortgage payments. (Photo by Noriyuki Doi)
Economy

China's growth model under strain, but stimulus faces high hurdles

Real estate slump, local fiscal woes and weak yuan put Beijing in a bind

17 August 2023
Japan intervened in currency markets last September when the dollar rose past 145 yen, and traders now expect officials to start warning of intervention soon.
Currencies

Yen falls past 145 per dollar to weakest level this year

Market expects BOJ's monetary policy to remain easy despite tweaks last month

14 August 2023
The Thai baht touched a 26-year high against the yen this month.
Currencies

Baht, won soar against yen as smaller Asian economies outperform

Thai, South Korean currencies bolstered by rate hikes and years of current-account gains

10 August 2023
Argentina, which has been building closer economic and financial ties with China, is turning to the yuan amid a severe outflow of forex reserves.
Caixin

Argentina taps China currency swap line to help repay IMF loan

Buenos Aires uses $1.7bn in yuan amid a severe outflow of forex reserves

4 August 2023
The Bank of Japan has expanded its target band for the 10-year yield, but market watchers think its exit from ultralow rates remains far away. (Photo by Konosuke Urata)
Bank of Japan

Yen weakens despite BOJ's policy tweak allowing higher yields

Japan's central bank signals it is not yet ready for drastic jump in rates

3 August 2023
The wide interest rate gap between the U.S. and Japan is fueling a sell-off in the yen. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Currencies

Yen falls to one-month low of 143 per dollar after last week's BOJ move

Japanese currency plunges 5 yen in two sessions due to limited yield rise

2 August 2023
President and CEO of Toridoll Holdings Takaya Awata says investors like the company's strategy of hedging its risks by seeking growth overseas to offset weakness in Japan.
Food & Beverage

Cheap yen benefits U.K. expansion, Marugame Udon owner says

Toridoll Holdings buys London pizza, Greek food chains to offset Japan weakness

31 July 2023
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks to reporters after the July 28 policy board meeting. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Bank of Japan

BOJ lightens grip on yields under shadow of weak yen, inflation

Gov. Ueda cites aim of reining in currency 'volatility' in tweaking policy

29 July 2023
Southeast Asian currencies endured a lackluster first half of the year as exports remained sluggish. (Source photo by AP, Getty and Reuters)
Currencies

ASEAN currency bulls pin hopes on China's economic recovery

Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines poised for gains this year: Mizuho

27 July 2023
The yuan was used in 49% of China's cross-border transactions made by companies and institutional investors in the April-June quarter, topping the dollar's share for the first time.
Currencies

Yuan exceeds dollar in China's bilateral trade for first time

April-June figure driven by capital market liberalization and Russian trade

25 July 2023
The yen has seen increased volatility against the dollar in recent weeks.
Bank of Japan

Yen, Japan bonds face greater volatility over BOJ's next move

Bank of Japan, Fed to make interest rate decisions next week

22 July 2023
The yuan has depreciated against the dollar this year as a result of China's sluggish exports and slow economic recovery.
Economy

China holds lending rates steady, but cash remains stuck in banks

PBOC resists easing while raising upper limit on foreign currency funding

21 July 2023
Foreign companies like PayPal are issuing yen-denominated bonds for the first time as Japan's stable market attracts global attention.
Bonds

Yen bond issuances soar as PayPal and others jump on bandwagon

BOJ commitment to easy money policy makes fundraising easier

20 July 2023
Subaru's Solterra EV is produced at a Toyota plant in Japan. The company aims to begin in-house EV production over the next several years. 
Automobiles

Subaru rides 'made in Japan' supply chain to high margins

Low yen and strong U.S. sales bring stellar results for Japanese automaker

19 July 2023
U.S.-based BlackRock recently raised its rating for Japanese shares from "underweight" to "neutral."
Markets

BlackRock, other investment firms boost outlooks for Japan stocks

Improving shareholder returns, governance reforms cited for upgrades

16 July 2023