• The Bank of Japan is considering a 15-basis point interest rate hike, which exceeds market expectations of a smaller increase or no change, as reported by NHK.
  • The yen has experienced a significant rebound from 38-year lows, surging from around 162 per dollar in mid-July to approximately 153 per dollar, driven by anticipation of the BOJ’s potential rate hike.

The Bank of Japan is reportedly considering a 15-basis point interest rate hike, surpassing market expectations of a 10-basis point increase or no change at all, according to NHK. This comes as the U.S. Federal Reserve contemplates a rate cut, potentially as soon as September. 

This could be why we are seeing what we are seeing on the USDJPY chart, with the yen rebounding from 38-year lows. The yen has jumped from around 162 per dollar in mid-July to approximately 153 per dollar, marking its most significant two-week gain of the year. 

Despite this, over three-quarters of economists surveyed by Reuters two weeks ago expect the BOJ to maintain rates at today’s meeting. Some experts, including former BOJ board member Takahide Kiuchi, attribute this interest rate inertia to the weak underlying factors driving price movements. 

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