Currencies

A monitor in Tokyo showing the Japanese yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and the Nikkei Stock Average on Wednesday.
Markets

Asian shares drop after U.S. inflation data triggers Wall Street sell-off

Yen falls to near 145 per dollar on speculation over Fed's continued tightening

14 September 2022
A Rosneft oil refinery in Russia. The state-owned company will issue yuan-denominated bonds.
Currencies

Russian companies shift to yuan as flight from dollar accelerates

More bond issues and trade conducted in China's currency, avoiding sanctions

14 September 2022
Yen lost 10% in about a month near 145 against the dollar by Wednesday already, but few expect a return to 110s, where it started the year, in any foreseeable future. (Source photo by Retuers)
Market Spotlight

Investors await effective policy responses as yen tests 1998 low

Japan's lack of attractive assets contributes to capital outflow

12 September 2022
Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda has few policy options that can be used to halt the currency's slide.
Currencies

BOJ and government find talk not enough to stop yen's fall

Verbal intervention having little effect as market sees regulators' hands tied

10 September 2022
Japan's Ministry of Finance and others are concerned about the weakening yen.
Currencies

Japan considers 'all options' to stem yen's rapid slide

Finance Ministry official hints at possible intervention as currency falls past 144

8 September 2022
Automobiles queue up at a gas station in Yangon, Myanmar.
Myanmar Crisis

Foreign companies in Myanmar struggle with shortage of dollars

Military government blamed for fickle foreign currency control policy

8 September 2022
The yen sank deep into the 144 range against the dollar Wednesday. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Currencies

Yen sell-off rolls past Tokyo's warning of 'necessary steps'

Japanese traders could drive currency as low as 170 to the dollar: hedge fund chief

8 September 2022
Mori Trust expects to earn strong returns over the medium to long term from its newest Washington office building purchase despite the rise of remote working.
Property

Japan's Mori Trust buys building in Washington for around $500m

Developer stays active overseas despite yen being at 24-year low

7 September 2022
Riot police guard a bank in Yangon. Myanmar's economy has been hit hard by Western sanctions over the military takeover.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar faces blacklisting risk by global financial crime watchdog

FATF's designation could further dent the regime's economic credentials

7 September 2022
 A currency trader in Tokyo: Soaring energy uncertainty in Europe looms over the inflation outlook. 
Currencies

Yen hits 143 to dollar in quickening sell-off

BOJ holds out on easing as soaring energy prices accelerate inflation

7 September 2022
BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda, left, stressed at Jackson Hole that Japan must continue its easing policy, while U.S. Fed Chair Jerome Powell called for fighting inflation "until the job is done." (Nikkei montage/Photos by Reuters, iStock)
Currencies

The Fed and the Bank of Japan are even further apart after Jackson Hole

With big U.S. rate hike expected in September, pressure on Kuroda set to rise

5 September 2022
The Japanese currency has fallen by 25 yen against the dollar since the beginning of this year. 
Currencies

Japanese yen falls to 140 per dollar for 1st time since 1998

Prospect of further U.S. interest rate hikes drive sell-off

2 September 2022
The dollar's nominal effective exchange rate against a broad basket of currencies, including from both advanced and emerging economies, is now at one of its highest points since it started publicizing the data in 1994. 
Currencies

Superstrong dollar threatens debt crisis across emerging economies

Mexico pressured to follow Fed hikes, while Sri Lanka's repayment costs soar

2 September 2022
The depreciation of the kyat against the dollar is believed to have been triggered by the central bank's forced currency conversion rule.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar plans $200m currency intervention to fight inflation

Local currency kyat slides nearly 40% in August as fuel prices climb

2 September 2022
Though beneficial to government balance sheets, the "inflation tax" could burden consumers with unmanageable price hikes.
Datawatch

Inflation tax hits $4.5tn in U.S., Europe amid global price hikes

Consumers may ultimately pay for less government debt through devalued currencies

30 August 2022
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled at the Jackson Hole gathering of central bankers that the Fed will keep raising interest rates to fight inflation.
Currencies

Yen slides to 139 level on policy comment by Fed's Powell

Expectations of wider Japan-U.S. interest rate gap fuels yen-selling

30 August 2022
China's holdings of Japanese government bonds leaves Beijing in a position to further weaken the yen.
Comment

China's stance on selling Japan bonds: once a lifeline, now a threat

Cross-holding deal from 2011 remains unrealized as tensions flare

26 August 2022
The hike comes as the Indonesian economy has yet to fully recover from the effects of COVID-19. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Indonesia raises policy rate to 3.75% as inflation speeds up

Central bank's first hike since 2018 follows tightening by U.S., ASEAN neighbors

23 August 2022
Finance chiefs from ASEAN nations, China, South Korea and Japan attend a news conference after the Asian Development Bank annual meeting in Chiang Mai in May 2000: Their agreement can be a blueprint for the Quad.
Opinion

The Quad should help South Asia with a currency swap plan

Financial aid in coordination with IMF would show bloc transcends military concerns

23 August 2022
Expanding use of the digital yuan comes with huge opportunities, as well as challenges.
Caixin

The challenges ahead for China's digital yuan

Expansion will require new rules and huge investment in datacenters and other infrastructure

20 August 2022
China launched a bank settlement network as an alternative to SWIFT in 2015.
Currencies

China and Russia step up bid to challenge U.S. dollar's dominance

Moscow pushes BRICS reserve currency plan while Beijing expands yuan network

17 August 2022
Weakness is only one aspect of the rupee's unattractiveness.
Opinion

The Indian rupee is not ready for the world stage

Reforms will increase use of the currency by those with limited choice

10 August 2022
The yen reached the 132 range against the dollar on July 29 as concerns over a weakening U.S. economy grew. (Photo by Yusuke Matsuzaki)
Currencies

Yen hits six-week high as short-sellers rethink Fed's next moves

Twin rallies by Japanese currency and bonds point to unwinding of negative bets

30 July 2022
A widely expected rate hike by the Federal Reserve is stoking more Hong Kong dollar selling and upping speculation that the city's ability to maintain the decades-old peg against the U.S. dollar is being stretched too far. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Currencies

Hong Kong's dollar peg in spotlight ahead of expected Fed rate hike

U.S. short seller Kyle Bass betting decades-old arrangement could soon crumble

26 July 2022
People in 23 cities can pay for goods and services using the digital yuan, also called e-CNY.
Currencies

China struggles to launch digital yuan after 8 years of trials

Alipay, WeChatPay mobile payments dull appeal of central bank's efforts

22 July 2022