The Japan Times5d ago
For the first time in four months, Japan's trade balance swung to a deficit as the weak yen inflated the value of imports, even as volumes fell. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/06/17/economy/may-trade-balance/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #japaneseeconomy #trade #middleeast #iran #us #financeministry #oil #ai
Japan’s trade balance swings to deficit as yen inflates imports

The deficit suggests trade may weigh on growth in the second quarter, when economists largely expect a slowdown due to the impact of the war in Iran.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJun 5
Japan's holdings of foreign securities fell sharply in May, a sign that the government may have tapped overseas assets to finance its record currency market intervention over the past month. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/06/05/markets/japan-forex-intervention-funding/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #financeministry #currencies #yen #bonds
Japan seen leaning on Treasurys to fund yen intervention

Treasury sales may not go down well in Washington where officials have become increasingly focused on the stability of the U.S. government bond market.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJun 4
A foreign exchange market intervention is the "ultimate means of sending a message" to market participants, Japanese Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs Atsushi Mimura said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/06/04/forex-tool-intervention/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #forex #dollar #yen #financeministry #atsushimimura
Japan official calls forex intervention a key tool to send message

Such intervention should be used when foreign exchange market moves that clearly deviate from economic fundamentals persist, Mimura said.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJun 2
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama has said authorities are always ready to take steps on currencies after data was released showing that Japan conducted a record spate of currency intervention over the last month. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/06/02/economy/japan-finance-minister-yen-comments/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #yen #forex #satsukikatayama #financeministry #japaneseeconomy
Katayama restates readiness to act on yen after data shows record intervention

Ministry figures released Friday show that Japan spent ¥11.73 trillion supporting the yen between April 28 and May 27, in a record for a monthlong period.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJun 1
Japan's biggest companies reduced capital spending in the first quarter despite record profits, as emerging uncertainty from escalating turbulence in the Middle East clouded prospects for future growth. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/06/01/companies/companies-cut-capital-spending-iran/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #financeministry #japaneseeconomy #iran #middleeast #sanaetakaichi #oil #inflation #manufacturing #boj
Japan’s firms cut spending over Iran stress despite record profits

Capital expenditure excluding software fell 3.5% from the previous quarter in the three months through March, the Finance Ministry reported Monday.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMay 30
Japan used a record of almost $74 billion over the past month to prop up the yen after the currency slid past ¥160 per dollar, according to Finance Ministry data confirming Tokyo's first market intervention since 2024. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/30/markets/yen-intervention-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #yen #currencies #financeministry
Japan used record $73.6 billion to support yen over past month

Finance Ministry data for the month from April 28 to Wednesday showed a total intervention of ¥11.73 trillion ($73.6 billion) over a period marked by several spikes in the yen.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMay 28
Currency traders are counting down to the release of official data from Japan's Finance Ministry on Friday that will show how aggressively authorities intervened to support the yen over the past month. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/28/markets/japan-yen-intervention-data/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #yen #dollar #forex #financeministry
Japan intervention data eyed as yen hovers near 160 per dollar

A person familiar with the matter said intervention took place on April 30 and price moves through May 6 bear the hallmarks of government purchases.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMay 26
Japan was overtaken by China as the world's second-largest creditor nation in 2025 despite setting a fresh record for its tally of overseas assets. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/26/economy/japan-creditor-slips-behind-china/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #trade #economicindicators #financeministry
Japan slips to world’s no. 3 creditor behind Germany and China

Japan's net external assets rose to an all-time high at the end of 2025, but the total was surpassed by China's, which climbed at a faster pace.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMay 16
Curious spikes in the yen have investors and strategists debating over whether Japanese authorities are trying to stem further weakness in the national currency through smaller operations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/16/markets/yen-spikes-traders-warning-shots/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #yen #currencies #financeministry
Curious yen spikes have traders gaming Japan ‘warning shots’

Investors and strategists are debating whether Japanese authorities are trying to stem further weakness in the yen through smaller operations.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMay 7
Sharp moves in the Japanese yen that sent the currency to a 10-week high renewed speculation that the country is intervening in the market. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/07/markets/yen-spikes-intervention-speculation/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #yen #dollar #forex #japaneseeconomy #financeministry
Yen spikes to 10-week high and sparks intervention chatter

Talk about Japan's market action has dominated trader discussions in recent days, with many seeing the 160 level as a trigger point for currency officials.

The Japan Times