Japanese Ministry of Finance Intervention Sinks Yen But Losses Short Lived

Post on: 2011-11-02 By: admin

Japanese Ministry of Finance Intervention Sinks Yen, But Losses Short-Lived
AUD/USDEUR/USDGBP/USD
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Christopher Vecchio, On Monday October 31, 2011, 9:32 am EDT

The Ministry of Finance unveiled a ¥3 trillion package to unilaterally weaken the Japanese Yen early in Asian trading on Monday, lifting the USD/JPY from close to its all-time low. Ahead of trading in New York, however, the Yen had already regained some steam.
Fundamental Headlines

• Draghi Takes ECB Helm in Battle Mode – Bloomberg

• Italian, Spanish Bonds Fall on Bailout Concern – Bloomberg

• Japan Intervenes to Tame Soaring Yen Ahead of G-20 – Reuters

• Oil Eases as Dollar Strengthens – Reuters

• New York Fed Won’t Trade with MF Global – WSJ

European Session Summary

In a surprise move to start the week, Japan’s Ministry of Finance announced early on Monday morning in Asian trading that the governmental institution had decided to intervene in the currency markets. At approximately 00:30 GMT, Finance Minister Jun Azumi’s order to intervene on behalf of a weaker Yen hit the wires, sending the USD/JPY from just above 75.500 to 79.500 in a matter of minutes. The ¥3 trillion package to manipulate the Yen’s exchange rate is reported to be the largest on record.

Finance Minister Azumi’s commentary following the intervention was in line with the standard rhetoric that has been employed by Japanese officials in regards to the Yen, noting the funding and safe haven currency’s recent appreciation has been due to “speculation,” as the Yen’s exchange rate does “not reflect [the] fundamentals of the economy.” The official also noted that “Japan will continue to intervene until satisfied,” a harbinger of perhaps more interventions in the coming days.

USD/JPY 5-minute Chart: October 30 to 31, 2011

Charts created using Strategy Trader– Prepared by Christopher Vecchio

The biggest beneficiary of the move to manipulate the Yen was hands down the U.S. Dollar. The Greenback rallied over 4 percent against the Yen at its peak following the move, good for nearly 400-pips to the upside. The U.S. Dollar’s strength boosted it against the rest of the major currencies, with the higher yielding currencies, such as the Australian Dollar and the New Zealand Dollar, selling off over 1 percent each at the move’s apex.

AUD/USD 5-minute Chart: October 30 to 31, 2011

Charts created using Strategy Trader– Prepared by Christopher Vecchio

Ahead of North American trading on Monday, risk-appetite was seeing a rebound, with the AUD/USD almost 100-pips above its post-intervention low. Likewise, the EUR/USD had rebounded as well, after hovering just below the psychologically significant 1.4000 exchange rate for the early part of Monday.

In all likelihood, the Yen’s weakness is unlikely to persist and thus it is unlikely that this is the last intervention by a Japanese governmental body. The Yen’s depressed value against the U.S. Dollar allows exporters, who have seen their profit margins siphoned away by the currency’s strength, to establish new hedges at ‘better’ prices to as to protect their cash flows in the future. As such, at least for Monday, buying pressure is likely going to be met with selling pressure, but the USD/JPY bias remains to the downside with the FXCM Speculative Sentiment Index still reading +4.6; as a contrarian indicator, the index suggests further losses for the pair.
Thus far, on Monday, the Dow Jones FXCM Dollar Index is much higher, trading at 9612.89, at the time this report was written, after opening at 9483.47. The index has traded mostly higher, with the high at 9699.59 and the low at 9463.26.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, Currency Analyst

To contact Christopher Vecchio, e-mail cvecchio@dailyfx.com.

Follow him on Twitter at @CVecchioFX

To be added to Christopher’s e-mail distribution list, send an e-mail with subject line "Distribution List" to cvecchio@dailyfx.com.
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