美财政部“书面指导”：日本央行应该加息来支撑日元

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Treasury has urged the Bank of Japan to continue tightening its monetary policy to address domestic economic fundamentals, including economic growth and inflation, and to support the yen's value against the dollar [1][4]. Group 1: U.S. Treasury's Position - The U.S. Treasury's semi-annual currency report suggests that Japan should continue its monetary tightening to normalize the yen's weakness against the dollar and to achieve structural rebalancing in bilateral trade [1]. - This report marks the first currency assessment of Japan since Trump returned to the White House, potentially fueling market speculation about a rate hike by the Bank of Japan later this year [1][7]. Group 2: Japan's Response - Japanese Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu stated that the details of monetary policy will be left to the Bank of Japan, emphasizing that he will not comment on foreign government opinions [4]. - Japan's current benchmark interest rate is only 0.5%, significantly lower than other developed countries, despite being the G7 nation with the highest inflation rate [4]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - Former top Japanese currency diplomat Mitsuhiro Furusawa indicated that the structural convergence of U.S.-Japan interest rates is the core logic behind the potential strengthening of the yen, rather than political pressure from the White House [5]. - The market is witnessing a resurgence of bets on yen appreciation, with hedge funds and long-term investors re-establishing positions at a five-year high, driven by speculation about Japan's currency discussions in trade negotiations [7]. Group 4: Economic Context - Both the U.S. and Japan share a common interest in avoiding excessive currency fluctuations that could harm exports or exacerbate inflation, suggesting a gradual appreciation of the yen may be on the horizon [6].