The Japanese yen weakened beyond 158 per dollar on Friday, giving back part of the gains triggered by recent joint currency intervention by Tokyo and Washington. The move has reignited speculation that authorities may intervene again to shore up the currency.
The pullback highlighted persistent doubts about how effective such interventions can be in reversing the yen’s longer-term downtrend, which remains driven by wide interest rate differentials, mounting fiscal concerns, and elevated energy and import costs. The yen also came under further pressure from a stronger US dollar and a rebound in oil prices following renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, data showed that Japan’s household spending fell 3.3% in June, defying expectations for a 1% increase and underscoring ongoing weakness in consumer demand. On the monetary policy front, investors are closely watching for a possible Bank of Japan interest rate hike in September, after the central bank left its policy settings unchanged last week.
