empty
02.11.2022 11:34 PM
JPYUSD: Is the era of ultra-low rates coming to an end?

The markets are deluded in the mad hope that there is a possibility of adjusting the bank's policy on controlling the yield curve (YCC) in the future. The reason was the words of Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda that this is a likely scenario if inflation continues to grow.

JPYUSD: Is the era of ultra-low rates coming to an end?

This image is no longer relevant

However, in my opinion, it is much more important that he sees no reason to change interest rates, he admitted at a meeting of parliament, again emphasizing the importance of maintaining a super-loose monetary policy.

The BOJ remains an exception to the global wave of central bank tightening as it focuses on rebuilding a fragile economy with aggressive stimulus.

With the markets in a persistent bearish trend, this leads me to believe that his words are just diplomatic ripples in the water.

Thus, Kuroda stressed that if Japan sees the prospect of inflation reaching 2%, accompanied by an increase in wages, then, of course, an adjustment in monetary policy will be required. Such indicators in the current and next year are absolutely unrealistic, which means that the old financial wolf is simply leading us by the nose, leaving room for maneuvers in the future.

Under the YCC, the BOJ is aiming for short-term interest rates at -0.1% and also near zero 10-year bond yields as part of efforts to sustain inflation to a 2% target.

In the meantime, the BOJ's relentless defense of the 10-year yield cap has led to a significant distortion in the shape of the yield curve, which has come under upward pressure from rising global interest rates. The gap was palpable.

We note that Japan's core consumer inflation accelerated to a new eight-year high of 3.0% in September, while the yen's fall to a 32-year low is pushing up the cost of imports.

Will such a situation cast doubt on the central bank's resolve to maintain its ultra-loose policy?

To begin with, rising inflationary pressures were the focus of the BOJ's September interest rate hike. Some board members specifically pointed out that corporate pricing behavior could change as more companies raise prices. Obviously, they are unhappy with Kuroda's course, and are trying to push Japan to follow the US Federal Reserve.

In their usual over-polite manner, the members of the board present at the meeting spoke one by one in favor of the BOJ announcing a change of course "at the right time." Agree, this is not a high pressure that Kuroda could withstand.

There are also a huge number of people all over Japan who support the opinion of the Ministry of Finance and are hungry for higher rates.

For example, former BOJ board member Makoto Sakurai, who is a close associate of Kuroda, said the central bank may adjust its yield targets next year if the economy maintains robust growth.

Echoing his associate, Sakurai believes that if Japan can achieve economic growth of around 1.5-2% next year, the BOJ could make small adjustments to control the yield curve. This is an extremely streamlined formulation, and I see no reason to change the policy when sustainable indicators are achieved.

Still, Kuroda's words at the briefing were taken as a dove signal. Hardly a warm hint from the lips of Kuroda himself was taken for a steadfast promise. So it is likely to support market expectations for a change in the central bank's ultra-low interest rates when its second five-year term ends next April.

In addition, the words of the head of the BOJ led to a sharp decline in the yen, which later prompted the government to intervene in the foreign exchange market to support the yen. The currency weakened sharply against the dollar as markets focused on the discrepancy between the BOJ's ultra-soft policy and US interest rate hikes.

This only confirms the idea that traders, often wishful thinking, are becoming disillusioned with the markets in the future. Whereas you always need to look at the background of the process, evaluating it from many positions. In this situation, the human factor played, although there are too few grounds for this. Kuroda is clearly trying to sweep the dollar from the first place, and so far does not intend to retreat from his idea.

Egor Danilov,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Summary
Urgency
Analytic
Egor Danilov
Start trade
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

XAU/USD. Analysis and Forecast. Gold is supported by moderate USD weakness and trade-related uncertainty

Today, gold is trading higher, remaining within a sideways trend. Late Thursday, Federal Reserve official Christopher Waller stated that rising risks to the economy could justify a key rate

Irina Yanina 19:15 2025-07-18 UTC+2

AUD/USD. Analysis and Forecast

Today, the AUD/USD pair climbed above the key psychological level of 0.6500, attempting to confirm its recent positive momentum. The main driver behind the Aussie's rise is the weakening

Irina Yanina 13:49 2025-07-18 UTC+2

USD/CAD. Analysis and Forecast

Today, Friday, the USD/CAD pair is pulling back from a three-week high near 1.3775 recorded yesterday. At the moment, prices are trading slightly below the 1.3730 level, showing a modest

Irina Yanina 13:38 2025-07-18 UTC+2

The European Central Bank May Postpone Its Rate Cut Until December

While the euro attempts to stage a correction against the U.S. dollar, a survey of economists suggests that the European Central Bank may delay its final interest rate cut until

Jakub Novak 11:37 2025-07-18 UTC+2

Powell Responds to White House Criticism

Lately, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has faced increasing pressure, coming under fire from lawmakers, the White House, and U.S. President Donald Trump. In a letter sent on Thursday, Powell

Jakub Novak 11:26 2025-07-18 UTC+2

The U.S. Begins Regulating the Digital Currency Market (Potential for a Correction in Bitcoin and EUR/USD)

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed bills establishing the first federal framework for dollar-backed stablecoins and setting regulations for other digital currencies. The idea of regulating the cryptocurrency market

Pati Gani 09:28 2025-07-18 UTC+2

The Market Favors a Weak Dollar

What could be better for the S&P 500 than a Federal Reserve rate cut amid a still-strong economy? A series of positive labor market and retail sales data, combined with

Marek Petkovich 09:28 2025-07-18 UTC+2

What to Pay Attention to on July 18? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

Several macroeconomic reports are scheduled for release on Friday, but none of them are of major importance. The only noteworthy release is the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index

Paolo Greco 06:13 2025-07-18 UTC+2

GBP/USD Overview – July 18: Is the Market Tired of the Dollar and Trump?

The GBP/USD currency pair once again leaned toward decline on Thursday. After the British pound strengthened on Wednesday evening following another report about Powell's dismissal, the dollar quickly recovered. However

Paolo Greco 03:56 2025-07-18 UTC+2

EUR/USD Overview – July 18: Trump Will Keep Trying to Fire Powell for Another Year

The EUR/USD currency pair continued its steady decline throughout Thursday. As a reminder, the forex market experienced an "explosion" on Wednesday evening. Donald Trump once again attempted to either fire

Paolo Greco 03:56 2025-07-18 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.