Yen Declines for Third Session

2026-04-13 02:13 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

The Japanese yen depreciated past 159.5 per dollar on Monday, sliding for the third straight session as oil prices surged again after the US and Iran failed to reach a deal during peace negotiations in Islamabad over the weekend.

President Donald Trump also announced plans to blockade the Strait of Hormuz and is reportedly weighing resuming strikes on Iran, threatening to escalate the global energy crisis.

The protracted conflict narrows the Bank of Japan’s scope for a near-term rate hike as policymakers are divided between those who focus on mounting inflationary risks and those who are concerned about downside risks to growth.

The central bank will hold a policy meeting on April 27-28.

Meanwhile, Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa noted that BOJ monetary policy could be used as a tool to curb inflation by supporting a stronger yen.

The currency is now hovering near the key 160 per dollar level, which previously triggered intervention by authorities in July 2024.



News Stream
Yen Declines for Third Session
The Japanese yen depreciated past 159.5 per dollar on Monday, sliding for the third straight session as oil prices surged again after the US and Iran failed to reach a deal during peace negotiations in Islamabad over the weekend. President Donald Trump also announced plans to blockade the Strait of Hormuz and is reportedly weighing resuming strikes on Iran, threatening to escalate the global energy crisis. The protracted conflict narrows the Bank of Japan’s scope for a near-term rate hike as policymakers are divided between those who focus on mounting inflationary risks and those who are concerned about downside risks to growth. The central bank will hold a policy meeting on April 27-28. Meanwhile, Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa noted that BOJ monetary policy could be used as a tool to curb inflation by supporting a stronger yen. The currency is now hovering near the key 160 per dollar level, which previously triggered intervention by authorities in July 2024.
2026-04-13
Yen Holds Steady as Markets Watch US-Iran Talks
The Japanese yen steadied around 159 per dollar on Friday, drawing some support as a two-week US-Iran ceasefire triggered a sharp decline in oil prices and eased stagflation concerns. Investors are now focused on diplomatic talks in Islamabad this weekend, where Vice President JD Vance will lead a US delegation in meetings with Iranian officials. However, sentiment remained cautious amid Israeli strikes on Lebanon and ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz that risk undermining the fragile truce. The yen remains down about 2% since the start of the conflict, reflecting concerns that surging energy costs from the Iran war could fuel inflation while weighing on Japan’s growth outlook. Markets are now watching for signals from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda ahead of the April 28 policy decision, following his guidance-style communication approach seen ahead of the last rate hike in December.
2026-04-10
Yen Weakens as Dollar, Oil Rebound
The Japanese yen slipped toward 159 per dollar on Thursday, giving back some of the previous session’s gains as the dollar and oil recovered amid ongoing uncertainty over the US-Iran ceasefire. A senior Iranian official stated that elements of the ceasefire proposal had already been breached following fresh Israeli strikes on Lebanon, while Tehran continued to largely block the Strait of Hormuz. On Wednesday, the yen had rallied as much as 1% after the ceasefire announcement, reflecting Japan’s sensitivity to Middle East oil supply shocks. Meanwhile, a former Bank of Japan official suggested the central bank is likely to raise its policy rate this month to avoid falling behind in controlling inflation. Markets are now closely watching for any signals from BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda ahead of the April 28 policy announcement, similar to the guidance he provided in December before the last rate increase.
2026-04-09