The U.S. dollar weakened sharply Monday against the Japanese yen after U.S. President Donald Trump and Japan’s finance minister confirmed both sides had intervened in markets.
Before late last week, the dollar was trading above 163 yen, touching 40-year highs. After regulators were suspected of stepping in, it fell below 160 yen.
Early Monday, after the official announcement of the intervention, the dollar fell to nearly 155.20 yen. That’s a big drop for the exchange rate. The dollar was trading at 156.75 yen late Monday afternoon Tokyo time.
Even though it has attracted millions of bargain-hunting tourists, the yen’s prolonged weakness against the dollar has been a source of frustration for Tokyo. Since Japan imports so much of what it consumes, a weak currency pushes prices higher. High oil prices have amplified that problem and that’s putting pressure on the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to do more to address the rising cost of living.
Joint intervention was needed to stem the yen’s decline
