Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama signals readiness to act on currency markets, but the yen shows no immediate reaction.
Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama stated the government is prepared to respond appropriately to foreign exchange movements as needed. The remarks came during a regular press conference, emphasizing vigilance over currency volatility.
The yen showed little reaction to the comments, despite recent weakness against the dollar. Japan’s real wages rose 1.9% year-on-year in April, marking a fourth consecutive gain, while household spending exceeded forecasts, bolstering expectations for a Bank of Japan rate hike at its June 15-16 meeting.
Markets remain focused on potential policy shifts, though Katayama’s statement did not specify timing or scale of any intervention.