TOKYO (March 30): Japan stepped up yen intervention threats and signalled that further falls in the currency could justify a near-term interest rate hike, as policymakers grow increasingly concerned about inflationary pressures from the Middle East war. "We are hearing that speculative moves are increasing in the currency market, in addition to the crude futures market. The remark marked an escalation from past verbal warnings as it was the first time Mimura, who oversees Japan's currency policy, used the term "decisive" — language traders typically read as a signal of authorities' readiness to intervene. "Currency market moves are obviously among factors that hugely affect economic and price developments," Ueda told Parliament on Monday. Ueda said the BOJ must raise its short-term policy rate at an "appropriate pace" to avoid bond yields from overshooting, signalling its resolve to continue with steady rate hikes.

Source: The Edge Markets March 30, 2026 04:01 UTC