Yen lower as BOJ sticks to ultra-easy policy, losses trimmed
THE yen dropped against major currencies on Wednesday (Jan 18) after the Bank of Japan maintained ultra-low interest rates, although it recovered some ground on expectations for tighter policy in the coming months.
The central bank stunned the market in December by raising its cap on the 10-year yield to 0.5 per cent from 0.25 per cent, doubling the band it would permit above or below its target of zero. Since then, speculation has swirled that the BOJ could tweak its yield curve control (YCC) policy further or even scrap it.
At a two-day policy meeting, the BOJ kept intact its YCC targets, set at -0.1 per cent for short-term interest rates and around 0 per cent for the 10-year yield, by a unanimous vote. It also made no change to its guidance that allows the 10-year bond yield to move 50 basis points either side of its 0 per cent target.
The yen was broadly weaker, although analysts said the BOJ was likely to tighten policy soon and the currency walked back some of its losses.
The dollar rose as much as 2.7 per cent to 131.58 yen before gains were pared. It was last up 0.7 per cent at 129.05 yen.
The euro gained 1 per cent and sterling gained 1.4 per cent to 139.62 yen and 159.40 yen, respectively. The Australian dollar jumped 1 per cent.
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“The BOJ was likely surprised by the reaction to its policy tweak in December which is likely why they didn’t take new initiatives today,” said Nordea chief analyst Niels Christensen.
“The BOJ’s forecasts are expecting higher inflation, which is why we expect monetary tightening further down the road,” Christensen added, although he said that would likely come when a new BOJ governor was in place in April.
Some investors have been betting the BOJ will be forced to adjust, or even dismantle, YCC on the view the central bank cannot sustain the massive volume of bond buying needed to defend the cap.
On Wednesday, Japanese government bond yields tumbled the most in two decades at one point, retreating sharply from the central bank’s 0.5 per cent ceiling after the decision. The 10-year yield has repeatedly breached the ceiling in the past four sessions.
“The downtrend in dollar-yen is still intact,” Nordea’s Christensen said.
“We’ll likely see a lower dollar-yen going forward but for now we might see some range trading until we get more data on the inflation outlook,” Christensen added.
The dollar index, which measures the safe-haven dollar against six peers including the yen, fell 0.2 per cent at 102.15.
Sterling rose to its highest level in more than a month even as consumer price inflation fell to a three-month low as core CPI failed to moderate, remaining at 6.3 per cent. The pound was last up 0.6 per cent at US$1.2366.
“The small fall in CPI inflation ... and unchanged core rate ... suggests it is too early for the Bank of England to declare victory in its fight against inflation,” said Capital Economics senior UK economist Ruth Gregory in a note.
“With underlying inflation, activity and wage growth all ending last year a bit stronger than expected, we doubt the Bank of England will call time on rate hikes.”
Meanwhile, the euro strengthened 0.4 per cent to US$1.0829 after European Central Bank member Francois Villeroy de Galhau said it was too early to speculate about what the central bank would do at the March meeting. Media reports on Tuesday said the ECB could slow its pace of tightening further in March.
The Australian dollar rose 0.4 per cent to US$0.7012, while the kiwi rose 0.7 per cent to US$0.6474, after earlier hitting its highest level in a month at US$0.6491. REUTERS
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