Japanese yen hits fresh 34-year low despite verbal intervention from authorities

The Japan flag is juxtaposed against a Japanese yen bank note. Javier Ghersi | Moment | Getty Images The yen slipped past 155 against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, touching a new 34-year low against continued strength in the greenback. The weakness comes as the Bank of Japan is due to release its monetary policy … Read more

Bank of America not bullish on Asian currencies, cites ‘chaotic era’

A Japanese 1,000 yen banknote sits on a pile of South Korean won banknotes for an arranged photograph at a Woori Bank Co. branch in Seoul, South Korea. SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg via Getty Images Bank of America is bearish on a slew of Asian currencies and neutral at best on others, as the investment … Read more

Bank of Korea chief says won volatility a little ‘excessive’

The Bank of Korea will intervene to control currency volatility if needed, the central bank’s chief told CNBC, describing the recent market fluctuations as a little “excessive.” Central bank governor Rhee Chang-yong said external factors are fueling the Korean won‘s movement. “I think the recent movement is a little bit excessive judging from what we … Read more

Nigeria’s central bank hikes interest rate to 24.75% as it battles sky-high inflation, currency crisis

A pedestrian in the Lagos Island district of Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday hiked its key interest rate by 200 basis points, as Africa’s largest economy looks to recover from a historic currency crisis and soaring inflation. The CBN announced … Read more

Indian bonds are to be included in global indexes. Is this a gamechanger?

An undated editorial illustration of the Indian rupee and the Indian flag. Anand Purohit | Moment | Getty Images The decision to include Indian government bonds in two prominent global indexes recently is being viewed as a shot in the arm for the rapidly growing country and is expected to bring in billions of inflows. … Read more

‘Mr Yen’ says Japan may intervene if yen drops to 155

Japanese authorities may intervene if the yen sinks to 155 to 160 against the dollar, according to a former top foreign exchange official Eisuke Sakakibara. The Bank of Japan’s decision on Tuesday to exit the world’s last remaining negative rates regime sparked a sell-off in the Japanese currency as Governor Kazuo Ueda reiterated monetary conditions … Read more

Canon Electronics leads plunge among Space One consortium after failed launch

Japan’s Canon Electronics shares fell as much as 12.7% on Wednesday after Tokyo-based Space One’s small rocket exploded just moments after its maiden launch. Reuters reported the solid-fueled Kairos rocket blew up just seconds after lifting off at 11:01 a.m. Japan time. If successful, Space One would have been Japan’s first company to put a … Read more

Egypt hikes interest rates by 600 basis points, pound crumbles to record low

Yousef Gamal El-Din | CNBC Egypt’s pound hit a record low against the dollar on Wednesday after its central bank hiked interest rates by 600 points and devalued the currency. The steps were meant to facilitate an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which is expected to confirm the extension of its current $3 billion … Read more

Nigeria battles to halt spiraling currency crisis and rising food insecurity

IBADAN, Nigeria – Feb. 19, 2024: Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against the hike in price and hard living conditions in Ibadan on February 19, 2024. Samuel Alabi | Afp | Getty Images Nigeria is battling to contain a historic currency crisis and soaring inflation, with the International Monetary Fund on Monday warning that … Read more

Turkish annual inflation soars to 67% in February

The Maslak financial and business center in the Sariyer district of Istanbul. Ayhan Altun | Moment | Getty Images Turkish annual consumer price inflation soared to 67.07% in February, the Turkish Statistical Institute said Monday, coming in above expectations. Analysts polled by Reuters had anticipated annual inflation would climb to 65.7% last month. The combined … Read more