How Did the Japanese Yen Do in Q1: What’s Next?

The Japanese yen has experienced a volatile first quarter of 2023, swinging from weakness to strength and back again against the US dollar. What factors have driven these fluctuations, and what can we expect for the rest of the year?

One of the main drivers of the yen’s movements has been the divergence in monetary policy between the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. The Fed has been on a hawkish path, raising interest rates and signaling more hikes to come, while the BOJ has maintained its ultra-loose stance, keeping rates at negative levels and buying massive amounts of bonds.

This has created a widening gap in the yield differential between the two currencies, making the dollar more attractive for investors seeking higher returns.

The Banking Crisis

However, things took a dramatic turn in late February, when a major scandal erupted in the US banking sector. Several large banks were accused of fraud, money laundering, and other illegal activities, triggering a wave of investigations, lawsuits, and fines. This shook investor confidence in the US financial system and sparked a flight to safety, boosting demand for safe-haven assets like the yen.

The yen rallied sharply against the dollar in March, gaining more than 700 pips since February 28. The banking crisis also weighed on the US economic outlook and cast doubt on the Fed’s ability to continue raising rates.

The Outlook for the Japanese Yen

As we enter Q2, the yen is essentially flat against the dollar, with the early gains made in Q1 erased by the recent reversal. The question is whether this trend will persist or change in the coming months.

The answer may depend on how the US banking crisis evolves and how it affects the Fed’s policy decisions. If the crisis is contained and resolved quickly, and if the US economy remains resilient, then the Fed may resume its tightening cycle and support the dollar. On the other hand, if the crisis worsens and spills over to other sectors and if the US economy slows down significantly, then the Fed may pause or reverse its rate hikes and weaken the dollar.