Japan PM Suga: Will consider state of emergency for Tokyo area
|After Japan reported a record 4,520 new coronavirus cases on December 31, Prime Minister (PM) Yoshihide Suga announced that the government would consider declaring a state of emergency for the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area as cases climb and strain the country’s medical system, per Reuters.
Key quotes
“Even during the three days of the New Year’s holidays, cases didn’t go down in the greater Tokyo area.”
“We felt that a stronger message was needed.”
“Many of the new cases with unknown origins were likely linked to restaurants, and that the government’s latest request for restaurants in the Tokyo area to close at 8 p.m. - rather than 10 p.m. - should be effective.”
Market reaction
With the third wave of the coronavirus intensifying in Japan, the Nikkei 225 index retreated from 30-year highs to close 0.68% lower at 27,258.
USD/JPY is off the lows but remains pressured around 103.00. The spot hit a daily low of 102.94 in early Asia.
Related reads
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers.