empty
01.05.2025 11:31 AM
The Japanese Yen Has Declined Sharply — Here's Why

The yen fell sharply against the dollar and bond yields declined after the Bank of Japan (BoJ) left interest rates unchanged and pushed back the expected timeline for hitting its inflation target amid rising uncertainty due to U.S. tariffs. The Japanese currency dropped 0.5% to 143.79 after the BoJ held its benchmark rate steady at 0.5%. Meanwhile, the 10-year government bond yield fell 4.5 basis points to 1.265%, and the five-year sovereign yield slid 6 basis points to 0.82%.

This image is no longer relevant

The BoJ now expects inflation to align with its 2% target in the second half of the extended forecast period, which has been pushed out by a year to include fiscal 2027. The central bank also noted that price risks are skewed to the downside and emphasized the high level of uncertainty surrounding future trade policy.

The BoJ's decision to maintain its monetary policy sparked a mixed reaction among economists and analysts. On one hand, the policy stance is intended to support economic recovery, particularly amid global instability. On the other hand, the lack of further rate hikes undermines the yen's appeal as a safe-haven asset in the current climate, potentially leading to a more prolonged period of depreciation against the U.S. dollar.

Despite the optimistic inflation forecast, many experts doubt its feasibility given persistent global economic challenges and geopolitical tensions. In particular, unpredictable trade policies and potential supply chain disruptions could significantly impact prices and economic growth. The BoJ will need to monitor developments closely and be ready to adjust policy if necessary. Striking a balance between supporting the economy and controlling inflation is crucial for ensuring sustainable and balanced growth.

Futures market traders also adjusted their expectations for further tightening, with overnight index swaps now pricing in a 39% chance that the BoJ will raise rates by year-end.

"The BoJ's outlook report was more dovish than expected," said analysts at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. "It likely signals an intention to wait for a clearer picture of the impact of U.S. tariffs before resuming rate hikes."

The yen had been strengthening against the dollar for four consecutive months, hitting its highest level since last September last week, as Trump's trade war spurred a sell-off in U.S. assets and boosted demand for safe havens. According to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), net long yen positions among speculative traders recently hit an all-time high.

Traders will continue to closely monitor any signals from BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda regarding future rate hikes — especially amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and the yen's recent strength.

Jakub Novak,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

High Inflation Supports the Pound. GBP/USD Outlook

The UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose from 2.6% to 3.5% in April, surprising the market, which had expected an increase to 3.3%. The core CPI also exceeded forecasts

Kuvat Raharjo 18:47 2025-05-21 UTC+2

USD/CAD. Analysis and Forecast

The USD/CAD pair is attracting sellers for the third consecutive day. A break below the 1.3900 level signals increased selling pressure, which could lead to further downside. Rising oil prices—driven

Irina Yanina 18:41 2025-05-21 UTC+2

USD/CHF. Analysis and Forecast

For the third consecutive day, the USD/CHF pair continues to lose ground. The fundamental backdrop suggests that the path of least resistance remains to the downside. The pair has been

Irina Yanina 18:38 2025-05-21 UTC+2

GBP/JPY. Analysis and Forecast

Following the release of UK consumer inflation data, which came in above expectations, the GBP/JPY pair slightly pared back its intraday losses. However, it failed to attract significant buying interest

Irina Yanina 11:25 2025-05-21 UTC+2

Will Global Central Banks Continue to Cut Interest Rates? (Bitcoin May Resume Growth and USD/JPY May Decline)

Among the economically developed nations—those that belong to the Western wing of the global economy—there is an important rule: a target of 2% inflation, specifically consumer inflation. Achieving this target

Pati Gani 09:46 2025-05-21 UTC+2

Market: Do or Die!

Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent. The S&P 500 rally from the April lows—adding $8.6 trillion in market cap—often appeared irrational. Investors ignored the Federal Reserve's

Marek Petkovich 08:23 2025-05-21 UTC+2

GBP/USD Overview – May 21: The Rollercoaster Continues

On Tuesday, the GBP/USD currency pair declined, unlike on Monday. While the euro's movement required searching for reasons behind the dollar's drop, the technical picture for the pound is straightforward

Paolo Greco 07:46 2025-05-21 UTC+2

EUR/USD Overview – May 21: The Theater of Chaos and Absurdity Continues

The EUR/USD currency pair moved sluggishly on Tuesday, which was not surprising given the absence of news. Monday didn't bring much in the way of important news either

Paolo Greco 07:46 2025-05-21 UTC+2

What to Pay Attention to on May 21? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

Very few macroeconomic events are scheduled for Wednesday. However, the UK inflation report holds significant importance for the market, or rather, used to . As we can see, traders continue

Paolo Greco 06:45 2025-05-21 UTC+2

The Fed Maintains a Wait-and-See Approach

The market expects active measures from the U.S. central bank, while Donald Trump keeps demanding that Jerome Powell cut interest rates. It's worth noting that Powell cannot make such decisions

Chin Zhao 00:41 2025-05-21 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.