Japanese Yen Holds Advance

2026-04-15 02:03 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

The Japanese yen traded around 158.9 per dollar on Wednesday after strengthening in the previous session, supported by lower oil prices and a softer US dollar amid hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the Middle East conflict.

The US and Iran are reportedly preparing for a second round of peace talks before the current two-week ceasefire expires, even as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to heighten global energy risks.

Japan’s currency remains sensitive to the supply shock stemming from the Iran conflict, given the country’s heavy reliance on Middle East oil imports.

Additional support came from speculation about potential intervention, as the yen recently approached the key 160 per dollar level, a threshold that has previously prompted Japanese authorities to step in to stabilize the currency.

Meanwhile, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said that policymakers must stay alert to the economic impact of the conflict, warning that higher oil prices could weigh on Japan’s growth outlook.



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Japanese Yen Holds Advance
The Japanese yen traded around 158.9 per dollar on Wednesday after strengthening in the previous session, supported by lower oil prices and a softer US dollar amid hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the Middle East conflict. The US and Iran are reportedly preparing for a second round of peace talks before the current two-week ceasefire expires, even as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to heighten global energy risks. Japan’s currency remains sensitive to the supply shock stemming from the Iran conflict, given the country’s heavy reliance on Middle East oil imports. Additional support came from speculation about potential intervention, as the yen recently approached the key 160 per dollar level, a threshold that has previously prompted Japanese authorities to step in to stabilize the currency. Meanwhile, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said that policymakers must stay alert to the economic impact of the conflict, warning that higher oil prices could weigh on Japan’s growth outlook.
2026-04-15
Yen Rises as Oil, Dollar Retreat
The Japanese yen strengthened toward 159 per dollar on Tuesday, ending a three-day losing streak as both the dollar and oil prices retreated on rising expectations that a US-Iran agreement could eventually be reached. President Donald Trump said Tehran had reached out to Washington just hours after the US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian oil shipments in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also stated that Iran is prepared to continue peace talks, provided they remain within the framework of international law. The yen additionally drew support from intervention concerns as it neared the key 160 per dollar threshold, a level that previously triggered Japanese authorities to step in to stabilize the currency. Meanwhile, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda emphasized on Monday the need to remain alert to the economic fallout from the Iran conflict, warning that higher oil prices could weigh on Japan’s growth outlook.
2026-04-14
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