Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato stated that the nation's currency policy stance has not shifted since the coordinated intervention with the United States, underscoring that authorities will persist in their efforts to uphold market stability. This reaffirmation came as the yen surged to its strongest level since February, driven by mounting expectations of further monetary tightening by the Bank of Japan.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Kato emphasized that he will maintain close communication with his counterpart at the U.S. Treasury Department. The yen's recent appreciation has been significantly fueled by growing speculation over potential interest rate hikes by the central bank, which has bolstered demand for the Japanese currency.
Notably, the yen has climbed well beyond the 155-per-dollar threshold without any apparent fresh intervention from authorities. As of Tuesday morning, the currency was trading at approximately 153.58 against the dollar, a marked strengthening compared to the level of around 160 seen just one week earlier.