TOKYO: Japan’s top currency official says the government will take all possible steps to respond to foreign exchange moves as needed, sending a fresh warning to speculators as the yen remains under pressure amid tensions in the Middle East.
“Some market participants said speculative moves in crude oil futures are affecting the foreign exchange market,” vice-finance minister for International Affairs, Atsushi Mimura, told reporters yesterday.
“Considering the impact of currency moves on the economy and people’s daily lives, the government will take all possible measures at any time,” he said.
Mimura spoke as concerns over the conflict in the Middle East and rising oil prices pushed up US long-term yields and supported the dollar.
The yen rose a tad after his remarks to 159.02 to the US dollar before reversing direction to trade around 159.40 mid-morning yesterday in Tokyo.
Before the three-day weekend in Tokyo, the yen strengthened as far as 157.51, moving away from levels where authorities are seen as poised to intervene.
That move came after the Bank of Japan (BoJ) held policy settings steady last Thursday. Governor Kazuo Ueda struck a cautious hawkish tone during his post-decision press conference, keeping alive the possibility of an April interest rate hike, supporting the currency.
Mimura’s warning signals the government is prepared to consider a range of measures to address currency volatility.
In addition to direct market intervention, authorities have used various tactics in recent years to counter speculative moves, including coordinated rate checks with US authorities and three-way meetings between top officials at the BoJ, the Finance Ministry and the Financial Services Agency.
Japanese authorities intervened in support of Japan’s currency on several occasions in 2024 when it weakened past the 160 per-dollar threshold.
Mimura pointed to speculative activity in crude oil futures as a factor behind recent currency moves, citing market views.
US benchmark WTI crude has largely traded at or above US$90 per barrel since March 6. For Japan, which relies on the Middle East for about 90% of its oil imports, a prolonged conflict in the region risks fueling domestic inflation. — Bloomberg
