Currencies: News & Insights

An unexpected devaluation of the yuan in 2015 resulted in capital flight.

Currencies

China plays with fire by drawing on currency card

Weaker yuan reemerges as trigger in US tensions

27 May 2020

Relations between the U.S. and China have deteriorated over the coronavirus pandemic and Hong Kong. (Nikkei montage/photos by Reuters)

Currencies

As tensions with US boil, China hints at weaker yuan

Beijing's central bank sets reference rate against dollar at lowest level since 2008

26 May 2020

Demand for bitcoin is surging in emerging markets as the value of their own currencies continue to decline.

Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin shines in emerging markets plagued by falling currencies

From Bueno Aires to Beirut, investors embrace cryptocurrency as safe haven

15 May 2020

While avoiding using cash may reduce personal contact, there is no evidence that banknotes or coins carry disease.

Coronavirus

Merchants shun cash as coronavirus infection fears widen

Global health crisis speeds up cashless payments in Asia

26 March 2020

The Indian rupee fell to its lowest value against the dollar on record Thursday due to economic fallout concerns.

Currencies

Emerging market currencies plunge in pandemic sell-off

Rupee falls to all-time low and rupiah plumbs post-Asian crisis depths

20 March 2020

The Bank of Japan is under growing political pressure to speed up the digitization of the yen. (Photo by Kei Higuchi)

Currencies

Japan's ruling party and BOJ squabble over digital yen

Ruling party lawmakers want to push forward, but central bank seeks more time

10 March 2020

Nikkei Markets

Hong Kong shares climb as investors watch central banks

Energy producers edge up after steep losses, while crude recovers

10 March 2020

Stock trading was suspended minutes into the Monday session in New York after a 7% drop in the S&P 500.

Markets

Black Monday 2020: How it happened around the globe

Coronavirus fears trigger volatility from Tokyo to New York

10 March 2020

Canon is among Japanese manufacturers that will suffer a severe blow from a stronger yen. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)

Business trends

Yen surge risks blowing $7bn hole in Japan exporters' profit

Strongest currency in 3-plus years would hit automakers hardest

10 March 2020

The Nikkei stock index fell 5% to close at 19,698.76 yen on March 9. (Photo by Kento Awashima)

Markets

Asian stocks plunge, as yen and bonds surge after oil plummets

Saudi Arabia poised to pump more crude even as coronavirus spooks global economy

9 March 2020

Nikkei Markets

Hong Kong stocks sink as oil's plunge sparks global sell-off

CNOOC and PetroChina lead losses after Brent futures slide as much as 31%

9 March 2020

The yen has surged to a 5-month high against the dollar in New York.

Markets

Yen surges to 5-month high, threatening rocky Tokyo market

Treasurys also attract funds amid coronavirus volatility

6 March 2020

Pattaya has been popular with foreign expats and tourists since American servicemen flocked there during the Vietnam War.  (Photo by George Styllis)

Economy

Thailand's foreign retirees see their good life slip away

Surging baht and new rules dull the country's allure for budget-minded expats

5 March 2020

A sperm whale makes waves off Hokkaido. Market watchers are keeping an eye out for stirrings in Japan's huge public pension fund.

Markets

Japan's pension 'whale' dives into foreign bonds, spouting yen

GPIF set to reshuffle $1.5tn portfolio this month

5 March 2020

Strong U.S. economic indicators have driven traders to prefer the dollar over the Japanese yen.

Currencies

Yen loses safe-haven allure as Tokyo policies are questioned

Virus response and GDP plunge push money into gold

21 February 2020

Facebook's plan to create a virtual currency called Libra has prompted some emerging nations to consider developing their own.

Cryptocurrencies

Libra threat spurs small nations to create own digital currencies

Cambodia and Marshall Islands look to safeguard monetary sovereignty

16 February 2020

A period of hardship has strengthened the Turkish economy's "immune system," Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak told Nikkei. (Photo by Sinan Tavsan)

Interview

Turkey's powerful finance minister says worst is over for economy

Erdogan confidant defends efforts to stabilize currency

24 January 2020

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, left, shakes hands with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in Washington in October 2019.

Trade war

US and China reach currency truce after finding happy medium

Weaker yuan spelled trouble for Beijing as well

15 January 2020

The U.S. Treasury Department will remove its designation of China as a currency manipulator in a semiannual report to be released soon.

Trade war

US removes China from 'currency manipulator' as talks progress

Partial trade deal eases concerns over yuan interventions

14 January 2020

The apparent gap between currency share and GDP share is not a new phenomenon.

Opinion

China's growth does not guarantee yuan’s outsize influence in markets

Fragmented world means currency will struggle to become truly liquid

10 January 2020

The HK dollar peg has held its ground despite concerns about capital outflows and bets by traders.

Currencies

Architect of HK dollar peg says exchange rate system will endure

Currency link with US dollar 'remains the best solution' for Hong Kong

9 January 2020

Myanmar plans a general election in November. Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy dominated the 2015 election. (Photo by Htet Aing Phyoe)

Politics

Suu Kyi invokes iconic father to solidify support before election

Biopic and kyat note come as Myanmar's leader takes heat on economy

8 January 2020

Demonstrators burn the U.S. and British flags during a protest against the assassination of the Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani by the U.S., in Tehran on Jan. 3.

Iran tensions

Killing of Iran general sends oil and yen surging

Markets hold breath for Tehran's response after US strike on Soleimani

4 January 2020

The digital yuan will depend on blockchain technology to prevent fraud, and the continued development of blockchain demands advances in encryption. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)

Currencies

China's digital yuan takes shape with new encryption law

Beijing enhances control over tools crucial to developing blockchain

31 December 2019

Tesla's Gigafactory is seen under construction in Shanghai. Critics are casting doubts over China's foreign investment figures published by the Commerce Ministry.

Economy

China's elastic yuan rates give rosy tint to foreign investment

Unusual dollar conversion methods downplay trade war impact

10 December 2019