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Amid a significant shift in global monetary expectations, the Japanese yen is facing renewed pressure as markets price in a potential hawkish pivot by the Federal Reserve at its June 2026 meeting. According to reports, the Yen extended its losses as investors abandoned bets on a Bank of Japan (BoJ) rate hike this month. This currency weakness is compounded by persistently high oil prices driven by ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, despite emerging reports of a 60-day memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.
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Sign InThe widening policy divergence bolsters the US dollar's dominance, supported by the Core PCE Price Index rising 0.2% in May 2026, per economic calendar data. Meanwhile, elevated energy costs continue to strain Japan's trade balance. With oil prices remaining high due to geopolitical risks in vital maritime corridors, the impact of verbal interventions and FX coordination previously signaled by Finance Minister Katayama appears to be diminishing in the face of macro realities.
Traders are closely monitoring the USDJPY pair, which stood at 157.40 (close June 2, 2026) as markets await the Fed's formal policy decision. Key catalysts to watch include the API Crude Oil Stock Change report due later today; a significant drawdown could further spike energy prices and intensify the urgency for Japanese authorities to address the Yen's depreciation.
Update: Strategist Makoto Noji of SMBC Nikko Securities has warned that Japan is on the verge of a historic yen collapse driven by oil price risks and fiscal loosening. Noji emphasized that currency intervention alone is no longer sufficient, calling for a simultaneous combination of Bank of Japan (BoJ) rate hikes and a halt to fiscal expansion to stabilize the currency effectively.