Japan’s top currency official delivered his strongest warning yet to speculators, saying authorities may need to take bold action in the foreign exchange market if current conditions persist. “We’re hearing increasing concern that speculative activity is picking up not just in the crude oil futures market, but also in the foreign exchange market,” Atsushi Mimura , vice finance minister for interna...
Japan’s top currency official delivered his strongest warning yet to speculators, saying authorities may need to take bold action in the foreign exchange market if current conditions persist. “We’re hearing increasing concern that speculative activity is picking up not just in the crude oil futures market, but also in the foreign exchange market,” Atsushi Mimura , vice finance minister for international affairs told reporters Monday. “If this situation continues, we believe decisive action may soon be necessary,” he said. Mimura spoke after the yen weakened past 160 per dollar level just before the weekend, a level where Japan intervened in 2024. “We are prepared to respond on all fronts, and our focus is broad and comprehensive,” he said, suggesting the government is monitoring not only currency markets but also crude oil futures. While Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama has referred to possible “bold action” — a phrase widely understood as signaling intervention — several times since late last year, Mimura has not used the term since taking office in July 2024. The wording delivered by Japan’s FX chief is typically seen as a final warning ahead of actual intervention to support the yen.
The yen edged away from its weakest level since July 2024 amid warnings that suggest Japan is prepared for potential intervention to support the currency. Japan’s currency slipped as much as 0.1% to 160.46 on Monday morning, after weakening for four consecutive days last week. It strengthened to trade at 159.95 after Japan’s top currency official said bold action may be necessary if the situation ...
The yen edged away from its weakest level since July 2024 amid warnings that suggest Japan is prepared for potential intervention to support the currency. Japan’s currency slipped as much as 0.1% to 160.46 on Monday morning, after weakening for four consecutive days last week. It strengthened to trade at 159.95 after Japan’s top currency official said bold action may be necessary if the situation continues. Read more: Japan’s Mimura: Bold Action May Be Needed If Situation Continues The conflict in Iran has pushed up crude oil prices, stoking inflation concerns and sending the yen and Japanese government bonds lower. Traders had been watching the 160 mark on the yen because authorities last intervened around this level in 2024. Read more: Yen Weakens to 160 Against Dollar for First Time Since 2024
Rheinmetall CEO’s dismissive comments draw pointed reaction from Ukrainian prime minister and adviser to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. What we know on day 1,496 German defence giant Rheinmetall has sought to ease a row caused by its CEO when he likened Ukrainian factories producing drones to “housewives” making weapons in their kitchens. In an interview with the Atlantic, CEO Armin Papperger was asked whet...
Rheinmetall CEO’s dismissive comments draw pointed reaction from Ukrainian prime minister and adviser to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. What we know on day 1,496 German defence giant Rheinmetall has sought to ease a row caused by its CEO when he likened Ukrainian factories producing drones to “housewives” making weapons in their kitchens. In an interview with the Atlantic, CEO Armin Papperger was asked whether Ukraine’s drone technology could disrupt his industry, which focused more on areas such as artillery and tanks. “This is how to play with Legos,” Papperger said of the drones and went on to compare major drone Ukrainian manufacturers to “housewives”, adding “this is not the technology of Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, or Rheinmetall”. “They have 3D printers in the kitchen, and they produce parts for drones,” he said, adding: “This is not innovation.” Alexander Kamyshin, an adviser to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, swiftly point out the successes that Ukraine’s drones have had against Russian tanks. Kamyshin said that in his visits to arms factories he had seen “Ukrainian women working equally with men often enough”, adding: “They deserve respect.” The row also spawned the hashtag #MadeByHousewives on Ukrainian social media. On Sunday, Rheinmetall tagged Kamyshin in a post on its X account in which it said. “We have the utmost respect for the Ukrainian people’s immense efforts in defending themselves. Every single woman and man in Ukraine is making an immeasurable contribution.” Ukraine’s prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, later on Sunday said “the people of Ukraine deserve not only utmost respect but to be heard – and learned from. Yes, Europe’s defence is powered by Ukrainian ‘housewives’,” she said, also adding the #MadeByHousewives hashtag. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed a possible security partnership on Sunday with Jordan’s King Abdullah to defend against drone attacks arising from the Iran war. “We discussed a possible partnership in the securi...