|

USD/JPY: Nobody knows if the BoJ intervened at 150 – Commerzbank

The Japanese yen weakened through 150 per US dollar for the first time since 1990 yesterday. Did the Bank of Japan (BoJ) intervene? In truth, nobody knows, economists at Commerzbank report.

Hidden interventions cannot be systematically successful

“Did the BoJ intervene at 150 or not? One of my colleagues is convinced that it did, I am convinced that it didn’t. But in truth nobody knows. Neither the BoJ nor the MOF have commented. And everyone seems to interpret price developments differently.”

“USD/JPY rose above the 150 level in the course of yesterday evening and is currently holding above this level. This provides an argument that the BoJ has not intervened. However, this cannot be ruled out completely, because the BoJ may be pursuing a ‘leaning against the wind’ strategy. It may have intervened, but still allowed this mark to be broken. If the BoJ intervened on the market then it was only secretly and timidly.”

“If the FX market really has been dis-regulated to such an extent that ‘proper’ interventions do not work any longer then it is no longer possible to control exchange rates. I cannot imagine that hidden interventions can be systematically successful.”

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

More from FXStreet Insights Team
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD holds steady above 1.1750 as traders await FOMC Minutes

The EUR/USD pair holds steady near 1.1770 during the early Asian session on Tuesday. Traders continue to price in the prospect of further rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve in 2026, following the 25-basis-point rate reduction delivered at the December meeting. The release of the Federal Open Market Committee Minutes will be in the spotlight later on Tuesday.

GBP/USD finds key support near 1.35 despite year-end grind

GBP/USD remains bolstered on the high end as markets grind through the last trading week of the year. Cable caught a bullish tilt to keep price action on the high side of the 1.3500 handle, though year-end holiday volumes are unlikely to see significant progress in either direction as 2025 draws to a close.

Gold holds above $4,300 after setting yet another record high

Spot Gold traded as high as $4,550 a troy ounce on Monday, fueled by persistent US Dollar weakness and a dismal mood. The XAU/USD pair was hit sharply by profit-taking during US trading hours and retreated towards $4,300, where buyers reappeared.

Ethereum: BitMine continues accumulation, begins staking ETH holdings

Ethereum treasury firm BitMine Immersion continued its ETH buying spree despite the seasonal holiday market slowdown. The company acquired 44,463 ETH last week, pushing its total holdings to 4.11 million ETH or 3.41% of Ethereum's circulating supply, according to a statement on Monday. That figure is over 50% lower than the amount it purchased the previous week.

Economic outlook 2026-2027 in advanced countries: Solidity test

After a year marked by global economic resilience and ending on a note of optimism, 2026 looks promising and could be a year of solid economic performance. In our baseline scenario, we expect most of the supportive factors at work in 2025 to continue to play a role in 2026.

Crypto market outlook for 2026

Year 2025 was volatile, as crypto often is.  Among positive catalysts were favourable regulatory changes in the U.S., rise of Digital Asset Treasuries (DAT), adoption of AI and tokenization of Real-World-Assets (RWA).