The yen’s ascent on Monday, that is March 11th 2024, was fueled by an upward revision in Japan’s growth figures, instigating investor optimism regarding a potential rise in interest rates this month.
The dollar experienced a decline of 0.28%, reaching 146.66 yen as the Japanese currency strengthened, briefly touching 146.54, near Friday’s five-week low of 146.48.
The surge in the yen can be attributed to a growing sentiment among Bank of Japan (BOJ) policymakers favouring the cessation of negative interest rates at their upcoming meeting on March 18-19.
Sources informed Reuters of this shift, citing expectations for substantial pay increases from major Japanese corporations. Notably, the results of the annual “shunto” wage negotiations, are set to be revealed on Wednesday.
When Might Interest Rates Change:
Speculation surrounding the possibility of ending negative rates has gained momentum, with a faction within the BOJ leaning towards this decision. The timing aligns with the upcoming policy meeting, creating anticipation among market participants.
The window for change appears to be linked with the release of results from the annual wage negotiations, contributing to the broader discussion on Japan’s economic trajectory.
An upward revision to Japan’s economic growth in the last quarter helped the country avoid a technical recession. This revision further solidified the argument that the Japanese economy is robust enough to withstand a shift towards tighter monetary policy.
Lee Hardman, a currency analyst at Japanese bank MUFG, noted that the revision has instilled confidence among market participants regarding the potential exit from the current loose monetary policy settings.
Global Implications and Market Response
While the yen strengthened, the dollar index remained largely unchanged at 102.69, hovering close to the nearly two-month low of 102.33 recorded on Friday.
The monthly payroll figures signalled a cooling U.S. labour market, reinforcing expectations of a policy easing by the Federal Reserve.
Current market sentiments point to June as the likely timeline for the first rate cut, with potential adjustments influenced by crucial consumer price index inflation data scheduled for release on Tuesday.
The euro exhibited stability at $1.0941 after a surge to $1.0980 on Friday, marking the first such peak since January 12. The European Central Bank’s recent decision to maintain record-high interest rates last Thursday contributed to this stability.
The bank cautiously laid the groundwork for potential rate reductions later in the year, a move that market participants are keenly monitoring.
