Yen traders gunning for gains after US election

Tokyo

THE yen is looking like a long-term winner after the Nov 8 US presidential vote, following a protectionism-heavy election campaign that's roiled markets worldwide and spurred the currency towards its best year since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Options traders have become more bullish on the yen as the election nears, while hedge funds wagered since early January that the currency will gain.