Japan committed to act appropriately on weak yen: finance minister

Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said Thursday there is no change “at all” in the Japanese government’s stance that it will act appropriately to address the weakening of the yen after it slipped past 155 to the U.S. dollar

Speaking in parliament, Suzuki said the government is carefully monitoring currency market developments but declined to comment further, amid market vigilance over a possible yen-buying dollar-selling operation to slow the Japanese currency’s fall.

“We are closely watching market developments. There is no change at all in our resolve to respond appropriately based on this,” Suzuki said.

The finance chief has repeatedly issued verbal warnings about the yen’s volatility, threatening to take appropriate action without ruling out any options.

Still, his latest comments did not suggest a change in tone, days after he said conditions were being set for “appropriate” action, without giving further details. Japan previously stepped into the currency market to arrest the yen’s sharp drop in late 2022.

Japan’s top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi reiterated that currency moves should be stable, reflecting economic fundamentals.

“We are of the view that excessive fluctuations are not desirable. The government will be closely watching market developments and take all necessary steps,” said Hayashi, the chief Cabinet secretary.

The yen’s depreciation reflects a wide interest rate gap between Japan and the United States.

The Bank of Japan, which holds a two-day policy meeting from Thursday, raised interest rates for the first time in 17 years last month but the central bank is not expected to rapidly push rates higher and it has underscored the need to continue accommodative financial conditions.

The U.S. Federal Reserve, meanwhile, is now expected to cut interest rates later than initially thought, boosting the dollar further.

A weak yen inflates import costs, which contributes to higher inflation in Japan.

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