植田和男“鹰声”难改颓势 日元空头大军仍死守阵地

Core Viewpoint - The market is increasingly speculating that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates this month, yet participants continue to bet on a weaker yen against the dollar [1][2]. Group 1: Market Sentiment and Positioning - Traders from Bank of America, Nomura Holdings, and Royal Bank of Canada indicate that investor positioning reflects a bearish sentiment towards the yen, as evidenced by Citigroup's yen "pain index" remaining well below zero [1]. - Despite the Bank of Japan Governor Ueda's hints at a potential rate hike, investors maintain bearish bets, reasoning that even if action is taken, Japanese yields are expected to remain significantly lower than those in the U.S., supporting the dollar [1]. - The positioning still leans towards a gradual increase in the dollar-yen exchange rate by year-end, unless there is a significant surprise from the Bank of Japan [1]. Group 2: Currency Trends and Predictions - Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama's efforts to curb the yen's weakness have had limited success, with the yen's decline partly fueled by speculation regarding the delay in rate hikes [2]. - Following Ueda's comments, hedge funds have gradually reduced their bets on the dollar-yen rise, but most still hold this position [2]. - The options market shows a similar trend, with a 40% higher trading volume in call options compared to put options after Ueda's speech [2]. - UBS has revised its year-end yen exchange rate forecast from 152 yen to 158 yen per dollar, while Bank of America predicts the yen will fall below 160 yen by early 2026 [3].