The yen has plunged to its lowest point against the euro in over a decade, triggered by speculation about the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) lax monetary policy. The yen isn’t just declining against the euro; it’s also on a downward trend against the dollar, hitting its lowest level since 1990. This indicates a dim outlook for Japan’s currency and possible economic consequences for the nation.

These trends suggest a global decrease in confidence in Japanese monetary policy. As the yen continues to fall, international investors might relocate their capital to more secure investments, possibly worsening Japan’s situation. Recordings suggest a roughly 7% decrease in the yen’s performance this year, making it the weakest in the Group of 10 currencies.

The yen’s decline is mainly due to rising US interest rates, slated to surpass Japan’s rates.

This has boosted demand for dollar assets, resulting in a drop in the yen’s value. As the Federal Reserve tightens its fiscal policies, the yen might remain weak. The BOJ’s steadfast commitment to loose monetary policy has also played a role in the yen’s depreciation, putting Japan at a competitive deficit in the international currency market.

Despite this, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda insists that Japan’s market will remain favorable. Ueda reassures that ample liquidity and a slow economic recovery will mitigate the damage from potential financial shocks. Ueda also maintains that the bank’s new strategies will help align monetary policy with long-term economic growth and retain both fiscal and monetary discipline to ensure financial stability.

However, the yen’s poor performance seems to be a reaction to the perception of the BOJ’s decision being a ‘dovish hike’. Alex Loo of TD Securities comments that positive eurozone data may press the euro-yen spot rate above 165, further weakening the yen. He adds that anticipating the European Central Bank’s (ECB) likely shift towards tighter monetary policy could intensify this effect. The euro’s increasing strength could also worsen the situation for the yen.

Thoughts among investors about when another rate increase from the central bank might be considered to vary. This discrepancy and the current economic climate continue to fuel uncertainty at 10:25 a.m. Tokyo time, the yen had fallen 0.2% against the euro and stood at 151.2 against the dollar. Then it slipped a bit further at 10:30 a.m., marking the continued depreciation of the yen, resulting in investors choosing other stronger-performing currencies.