日元越救越弱！日央行加息“失灵”，最强干预警告只是开始？

Core Viewpoint - The Japanese yen continues to weaken despite the Bank of Japan's recent interest rate hike, raising concerns about the effectiveness of monetary policy in stabilizing the currency [1][2][10]. Group 1: Monetary Policy and Interest Rates - The Bank of Japan raised interest rates by 25 basis points to a 30-year high during the December meeting, indicating a potential shift towards tighter monetary policy [1][8]. - The October monetary policy meeting minutes revealed intense debates among committee members regarding the necessity of further rate hikes to achieve long-term economic stability [6]. - Some committee members expressed concerns that the recent yen depreciation could lead to higher import costs and inflation exceeding expectations [6][16]. Group 2: Currency Performance - The yen has depreciated by 0.28% against the US dollar, trading at 155.7425, continuing its downward trend [3]. - Despite the interest rate hike, market reactions suggest a lack of confidence in the Bank of Japan's commitment to combating inflation, leading to further yen depreciation [10][11]. Group 3: Government Response and Fiscal Policy - The Japanese government issued a strong warning to currency speculators, emphasizing its authority to take decisive action against excessive currency fluctuations [5][13]. - The government has implemented an expansive fiscal policy totaling 21.3 trillion yen, which has raised concerns about Japan's fiscal health and contributed to rising bond yields [11]. - Plans for issuing new debt exceeding 28.6 trillion yen in the upcoming budget have intensified scrutiny over the government's fiscal strategy [11]. Group 4: Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - Analysts predict that the Bank of Japan may continue to raise interest rates in 2024, with expectations of reaching a policy rate of 1.25% by the end of 2026 [9]. - Concerns about the Bank of Japan's delayed response to inflation risks are growing, with market participants questioning the effectiveness of verbal interventions in stabilizing the yen [16].