Japan spent $36.8 billion on foreign exchange market intervention in July

The figures are from Japan’s Ministry of Finance for the June 27-July 29. You’ll recall highs for USD/JPY over 161.75 during that period.

I’m not sure its correct to say ‘spent’ … given USD/JPY is now under 150 I’d say ‘shrewd investment’ 😉

What a load of malarkey it all was. Why didn’t the Bank of Japan just drop in a surprise rate hike when yen was weakening? That would have sorted everything out really quick. They hiked anyway. But, yeah, maybe they just like the profits!

Here is the link to the Reuters article for more info.

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If you are curious about the mechanics of intervention and why you should be watching the MoF instead of the BOJ:

• The Ministry of Finance (MOF) in Japan is responsible for formulating foreign exchange policy in the country, while the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is responsible for executing such policies, particularly in terms of FX intervention.
• The MOF can decide to intervene in the FX market if it believes (in the current situation) the yen is too weak. Once the MOF decides to intervene, it gives instructions to the BOJ. The BOJ then conducts operations in the FX market by (in current circumstances) buying yen. The Foreign Exchange Fund Special Account (FEFSA), which falls under the jurisdiction of the MOF, is used for interventions. You will note that in the current situation, where the BOJ would buy yen, they will dip into USD reserves to fund the other side of the trade, buying USD (or other currencies if needed).
• The BOJ’s operations are usually conducted through commercial banks that deal in the foreign exchange market. They may be spot transactions, or forward transactions that are set to occur at a future date. Note that while the MOF has the ultimate authority to decide when to intervene, it does so in close consultation with the BOJ. The BOJ provides expertise and advice on monetary and financial market conditions, which can influence the MOF’s decision. This collaboration reflects the balance between the roles of the two entities: the MOF as the government’s chief financial and economic advisor, and the BOJ as the country’s central bank that maintains stability in the financial system.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.