Japan lets yen slide past 153 without intervention, leaving traders guessing

Depreciation beyond key level seen linked more to fundamentals than speculation

20240411N yen

The yen sank below 153 to the dollar for the first time since 1990. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)

RYO SAEKI and AOI HANAZAWA, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- The lack of intervention in Japan's currency market after the yen weakened beyond 152 to the dollar for the first time since 1990 has traders wondering when the government will step in and assessing the seriousness of Tokyo's jawboning.

The yen barely budged Thursday after Masato Kanda, Japan's top currency diplomat, called the decline "rapid" and said Tokyo would "respond appropriately to excessive moves, without ruling out any options."

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.