Economists are divided over the course of the BOJ's balance sheet policy in the coming months and whether a reduction would constitute the start of quantitative tightening. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Kyodo and Yuji Murakami)
Market Spotlight

Market to scrutinize BOJ for signs of quantitative tightening

Japan's central bank is shifting away from decadelong expansion of balance sheet

10 June 2024
The rupee's relatively tame depreciation underscores the resiliency of India's economy as well as the country's financial stability, Reserve Bank of India Gov. Shaktikanta Das said on June 7.
Currencies

Indian rupee regains stability after falling to near all-time low

Reserve Bank of India stands pat in first meeting after general elections

7 June 2024
For a brief moment, it appeared that the yuan might challenge the "exorbitant privilege" that the U.S. enjoys thanks to the dollar's status as the world's primary reserve currency.
Opinion

Discomfort with the dollar hasn't gotten much beyond grumbling

Interest in yuan as reserve currency has faded despite growing trade use

7 June 2024
The yen fell 15% against the dollar in 2022 and 7% in 2023, while it has dropped 10% so far in 2024, making it the worst performing major currency. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Currencies

Japan's recent yen-buying intervention hit record level

Bought total of $62bn from late April to support currency against dollar

31 May 2024
Belief that the Bank of Japan will further tighten its policy to prop up the yen and cool import price inflation has pushed up yields for Japanese government bonds. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Markets

Japan's 10-year bond yield hits 13-year high; Nikkei average sinks

Yen falls to 4-week low on belief Fed will go higher for longer takes hold

30 May 2024
High interest rates and efforts by Chinese policymakers to stimulate the economy pose an ongoing challenge to the yuan's value.
Currencies

Chinese yuan falls to six-month low on dollar strength

Gradual weakening highlights U.S., China monetary policy divergence

29 May 2024
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on May 23. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
29 May 2024
Chea Serey, governor of National Bank of Cambodia, speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on May 24. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Interview

Cambodia digital payments to nurture local currency, says central bank head

Chea Serey highlights cross-border transactions via 'Bakong' system

28 May 2024
The yen's recent volatility has prompted many companies to steer clear of assumptions that it will remain weak.
Business trends

Japan blue chips warn of possible $1.7bn hit to profit from yen swings

Honda, Denso expect negative forex impacts, while Toyota, Olympus see net benefits

28 May 2024
Recruitment company Asia to Japan is seeing less interest to work in Japan from students in China, Taiwan and South Korea. (Asia to Japan)
Society

$20,000 annual pay: Japan's weak yen drives away Asian talent

Companies face trouble recruiting students from China, Taiwan and South Korea

28 May 2024
Recent foreign exchange rate volatility has caused headaches for Japanese companies as they compile earnings forecasts for this fiscal year.
Currencies

Japan companies brace for forex bumps, assume 144 yen-dollar rate

Market gyrations prompt cautious yen outlook for earnings forecasts

25 May 2024
The yen has fallen to its softest level against the dollar since a suspected currency market intervention by Japan three weeks ago. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Currencies

Yen weakens to 157 against dollar, touching 3-week low

Japanese currency approaching level seen before presumed market intervention

24 May 2024
Masato Kanda, Japan's vice finance minister for international affairs, spoke with Nikkei. (Photo by Tokuyuki Matsubuchi)
Interview

Japan top currency diplomat calls for stepping up structural reforms

Kanda sees G7 officials discussing Chinese overcapacity this week amid U.S. tariffs

22 May 2024
The Philippine peso has been on a downtrend recently, as the U.S. Federal Reserve holds off on interest rate cuts and the Philippine central bank adopts an easier monetary stance. 
Currencies

Philippine peso falls to 18-month low against dollar

Central bank's 'less hawkish' stance leaves currency to slide

21 May 2024
The yen has traded weaker than 150 to the dollar in recent months. (Photo acquired by Nikkei)
Currencies

Japan's weak yen hindered by costly energy, raw material imports

Capital outflows compound pressure on currency along with rate gap with U.S.

21 May 2024
The yen's weakness stems from the wide rate differential between the U.S. and Japan. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Akira Kodaka and Yuji Murakami)
Market Spotlight

Potential for earlier BOJ rate hike rises amid hawkish signals, weak yen

Some analysts expect Japan's central bank to use bond yields to stop yen's fall

20 May 2024
Five-yen coins, in foreground, are made from copper and zinc. (Photo by Shoya Okinaga)
Commodities

Japan's 5 yen coin costs almost face value on pricey copper, zinc

Weak Japanese currency drives up dollar-based materials prices

20 May 2024
Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, which opened near Tokyo Station last year, offers rooms in May starting around 300,000 yen ($1,900) nightly. (Photo by Takeshi Hashimoto)
Travel & Leisure

Tokyo hotels 30%-40% cheaper than New York, Singapore in dollar terms

Room rates poised to rise as inbound tourism booms on weak yen

18 May 2024
Iris Ohyama's rice cookers are displayed at a store in Japan. The company has begun to export packaged rice to the U.S. and Thailand
Business trends

Weak yen and lower costs lure factories back to Japan

Companies take advantage of 'Cheap Japan' to export cosmetics and rice

18 May 2024
Hong Kong is the first place outside mainland China to use digital yuan services. (Photo by Kenji Kawase) 
Currencies

Hong Kong opens digital yuan wallets in a first for non-mainlanders

City's government supports People's Bank of China's effort to spread e-CNY

17 May 2024
The Japanese currency had remained around the 156 level even after likely government interventions to shore up the yen in late April and early this month.
Currencies

Yen rises to 153 during Tokyo hours as U.S. consumer inflation eases

Economists increasingly concerned over weak yen weighing on Japanese consumers

16 May 2024
Currency analysts are focused on the U.S. consumer price index for April due Wednesday after the previous month’s data caused the yen to tumble. (Source photos by Hiroshi Tamehiro and Akira Kodaka)
Market Spotlight

Mighty dollar pushes Asian governments to boost currency protection

Asian monetary officials seek to buy time until the U.S. economy slows down

13 May 2024
The correlation between a softer yen and Toyota's share price has weakened in recent years.
Markets

Toyota stock slumps despite weaker yen and record profit

Currency stability key to broader Japan market rebound

13 May 2024
Condominiums in central Tokyo are relatively inexpensive compared to those in cities like New York, Hong Kong and London. (Photo by Konosuke Urata)
Property

Weak yen sends central Tokyo condo resale prices soaring

Foreign investors also swayed by rental income and trends in other global cities

11 May 2024
Less profit earned by Japanese companies abroad are flowing back to Japan.
Business trends

Japan companies kept $68bn of overseas profits abroad

Government seeks to encourage repatriation to spur demand for yen

11 May 2024