The Bank of Japan appears to be joining the ranks of the world's other central banks in deciding to take the first step toward tightening monetary policy. While it has not raised its official interest rate, it has increased the range for Japan's bond yields, which may make its interest rates a bit more attractive.
Since September 2016. The Bank of Japan has kept a check on bond yields, at the time setting a target for the 10-year bond yield at 0% with a maximum deviation of 10 bps. This was meant to stimulate inflation along with other programs and provide cheap financing. The BoJ then expanded the expected fluctuation range, and when sellers of Japanese paper became too numerous and yields rose above the range, it triggered unlimited buying of those bonds. In July 2018, the fluctuation band was extended to 20 bps, and in March 2021 to 25 bps from the 0% level. Today, the range was widened to 50 bp, pushing yields towards it, to their highest level since 2015.
With today's decision, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) kept its key short-term interest rate at -0.1% and the 10-year bond yield near 0%, as expected. At the same time, the central bank changed the yield curve's tolerance range in an effort to reduce some of the costs of prolonged monetary stimulation (the Bank had to launch unlimited bond purchases). The council said it would widen the 10-year government bond yield spread from the current +/-0.25 points to +/- 0.5 points. Meanwhile, the BoJ assessed that the economy was possibly to recover, with the impact of COVID and supply issues waning, while downward pressure continued due to high commodity prices and a slowdown in foreign economies, tradingeconomics reported.
The annualized inflation rate is possible to rise in 2022 due to increases in the cost of food, energy and durable goods, before weakening in the middle of fiscal 2023. The council reiterated that it will take additional easing measures if necessary, and expects short- and long-term rates to remain at current or lower levels.
Significant impact on the yen exchange rate
Although interest rates were not changed, Japanese bond yields moved up, reducing their divergence from bonds of the US, Germany or other countries where a rate hike cycle is underway. As a result of this, the Japanese yen was able to gain decisively, falling from the JPY137 area to JPY133 this morning. Japan was thus able to take another step to support the yen, following its previous second successful currency intervention.
Source: Conotoxia MT5, USDJPY, Daily
Perhaps after a strong dollar, the time would come for a strong yen as well, and changing the target for bond yields may be just the first step. Further possible action, may be an interest rate hike, where the market expects an increase to 0.3 percent in 2023. This would mean a 40bp increase, which, assuming US rates can start falling or stop rising at the same time, could give the yen a boost after a disastrous 2022.
Daniel Kostecki, Director of the Polish branch of Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service)
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