Japan’s Finance Ministry’s Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs Kanda. He is the official who will instruct the BOJ to intervene, when he judges it necessary. Often referred to as Japan’s ‘top currency diplomat’.
If you are confused about Kanda commenting, I get it. Japan appointed a replacement,
Atsushi Mimura, at the end of June. However, he takes over from Kanda on July 31, following the meeting of the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Rio de Janeiro from July 25. So for now, its still Mr. K in the big chair.
USD/JPY is above 159.40, nibbling away at its overnight ‘gap’ down.
Kanda’s comments:
Recent yen moves are somewhat rapidWill take
appropriate action on forex if neededDid not comment
whether intervened fx marketCan’t think if
government officials commented on forex interventionYen moved 5% in the
past month, which is significantIt is natural to
think recent forex moves were driven by speculatorsWeak yen pushes up
import costs, which would hurt people’s livesUndesirable if
excessive forex moves triggered by speculators hurt people’s lives
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.
