Japanese Yen: Policy follow-up needed for renewed demand – BNY

BNY’s Geoff Yu argues that coordinated intervention has not significantly increased foreign exposure to the Japanese Yen (JPY), with investors still net long JPY but at much lower levels than in H1 2026. Yu stresses that a durable rebuilding of JPY holdings requires credible domestic follow-through from the Bank of Japan (BoJ), fiscal consolidation and structural reform to raise real rates and attract portfolio inflows.

Intervention buys time, not conviction

"Coordinated intervention has bought time but hasn’t materially increased foreign JPY holdings. Investors remain net long JPY, but exposure is well below H1 2026 levels and won’t rebuild without credible domestic follow-through: Bank of Japan (BoJ) tightening, fiscal consolidation and structural reform. Japanese equities remain largely passive and under-supported, while Japanese government bonds (JGBs) are attracting the clearest marginal demand."

"Coordinated intervention hasn’t materially changed cross-border JPY exposures, based on our latest data. Apart from a very strong volume day last Friday when both the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the U.S. Treasury Department entered markets, there was no discernible impact on holdings. Measured on a JPY aggregate and USD/JPY basis, current holdings remain net positive for the JPY but at far lower levels compared to H1 2026."

"On Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted as much that intervention can give “market signals” but ultimately Japan was “going to need policy follow-up.” It’s not Treasury’s job to manage Japan’s exchange rate, but the signaling is clear: the U.S. now expects measures – such as further BoJ rate hikes, fiscal consolidation and structural reform – to drive up the JPY’s real rates and attract greater foreign portfolio flows while keeping savings onshore."

"Our data indicate that investors wish to maintain net positive cross-border exposure to JPY, but developments in recent months, both due to external shocks and domestic credibility issues, have weakened resolve. U.S. support provides an opening for re-accumulation, but we believe the market will agree with Bessent that any structural shift in holdings will depend on credible domestic policy changes."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)