{"id":626652,"date":"2026-08-08T07:04:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/626652\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:04:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:04:38","slug":"editors-choice-intervention-buys-time-but-wont-fix-yens-fundamental-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/626652\/","title":{"rendered":"Editor’s Choice: Intervention buys time, but won’t fix yen’s fundamental problem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hello from Tokyo. Japan and the United States have carried out a coordinated yen-buying intervention<\/a> for the first time in 28 years, as confidence in the yen had fallen to historic lows, with the currency briefly approaching 164<\/a> to the dollar in late July, its weakest level since 1986.<\/p>\n

The previous coordinated yen-buying intervention took place during the Asian financial crisis, and the last time Japan and the U.S. acted together to sell yen was in the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. In other words, coordinated intervention has traditionally been reserved for times of crisis.<\/p>\n

It’s hard to claim that the global economy is currently in such a state of crisis. Instead, the intervention should be viewed as an effort to prevent excessive yen depreciation and its potential for broader disruption in global financial markets. In an interview<\/a> published by Nikkei Asia, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed that one objective was to contain Asia currency risk. He said: “Many Asian currencies follow the Japanese yen currently. Korean won is weak because the yen is weak. Many people believe China has a very undervalued currency and they are reluctant to strengthen the currency too much just because of yen weakness.”<\/p>\n

Even so, intervention alone is unlikely to reverse the underlying trend<\/a> of a weakening yen; at best, it only buys time. The U.S. government has sent a strong signal that it’ll continue working with Japan to address the weak yen, but the root of the problem clearly lies within Japan.<\/p>\n

Japan must first demonstrate greater fiscal discipline, but Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government is doing the opposite<\/a>. It has shown no sign of abandoning its expansionary fiscal stance, and markets are becoming increasingly concerned about Japan’s fiscal health.<\/p>\n

The Bank of Japan, meanwhile, needs to dispel perceptions that it has fallen behind the curve on interest rate hikes. The next major focus for markets will almost certainly be the BOJ’s policy meeting<\/a> in September.<\/p>\n

Another factor weighing on the yen is persistent real demand for dollars among Japanese companies, driven by higher global energy prices. The greater the volatility in currency markets, the more that speculators betting on further yen weakness is likely to have an influence.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, as the Japanese and U.S. governments move to defend the currency, the yen has once again weakened to 158 to the dollar. Toyota Motor, Japan’s largest company by revenue, revised its assumed exchange rate<\/a> for the fiscal year ending March 2027 from 150 yen to 160 yen per dollar, signaling expectations of a weaker yen.<\/p>\n

For market participants, this is indeed shaping up to be a very hot summer. Please check out Nikkei Asia’s related reports<\/a> for more insights.<\/p>\n

My suggested reads<\/p>\n

1. Visions of putting AI data centers into space are fueling demand for larger, more capable satellites. This, in turn, means more powerful rockets and more frequent launches to reach orbit. Tech Asia explores how this may be the perfect time<\/a> for launch services providers in Japan and elsewhere to challenge industry leader SpaceX for a piece of space.<\/p>\n

2. Indonesian, Thai and Philippine films and series are becoming increasingly popular<\/a> on paid streaming services like Netflix, Hong Kong-based Viu and Jakarta-based Vidio, driving rapid growth in regional viewership. It is also encouraging producers to expand beyond their home markets, but “travelability” and monetization could be high hurdles to clear.<\/p>\n

3. The number of IPOs in the Indonesian market<\/a> this year has been just seven as of July — far off the pace seen in 2025, which had a total of 26. As Trading Asia looks, some companies are seeking to keep the market tight and drive up stock prices by exercising caution amid reforms undertaken by the Indonesia Stock Exchange. But also, investors have been deterred by President Prabowo Subianto’s policies to expand the state’s role in the economy, hindering the market’s recovery.<\/p>\n

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!<\/p>\n

Akito Tanaka<\/p>\n

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