Japan’s Kanda says prepared to necessary steps on rapid yen fall

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’.

• Recent yen moves are rapid
• Won’t rule out any
  steps to respond to disorderly fx moves
• Prepared to take
  necessary actions whenever possible
• Won’t comment
  whether overnight forex moves are excessive
• Excess fx moves
  could affect economy

I warned we’d be getting some of this earlier:

My warning didn’t take much imagination., After the more than one big figure jump higher in USD/JPY overnight it was a bit of a no brainer. Be on the lookout for more to come, from Finance Minister Suzuki and Japan chief cabinet secretary Matsuno at the very least.

These comments are a step up from the usual comments we get and as such represent an excalation in rhetoric. They still fall short of what we are likely to see ahead of actual intervention though.

Check this out for more of what to watch out for:

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A note on the mechanics of intervention:

• The Ministry of Finance (MOF) in Japan is responsible for formulating foreign exchange policy in the country, while the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is responsible for executing such policies, particularly in terms of FX intervention.
• The MOF can decide to intervene in the FX market if it believes (in the current situation) the yen is too weak. Once the MOF decides to intervene, it gives instructions to the BOJ. The BOJ then conducts operations in the FX market by (in current circumstances) buying yen. The Foreign Exchange Fund Special Account (FEFSA), which falls under the jurisdiction of the MOF, is used for interventions. You will note that in the current situation, where the BOJ would buy yen, they will dip into USD reserves to fund the other side of the trade, buying USD (or other currencies if needed).
• The BOJ’s operations are usually conducted through commercial banks that deal in the foreign exchange market. They may be spot transactions, or forward transactions that are set to occur at a future date. Note that while the MOF has the ultimate authority to decide when to intervene, it does so in close consultation with the BOJ. The BOJ provides expertise and advice on monetary and financial market conditions, which can influence the MOF’s decision. This collaboration reflects the balance between the roles of the two entities: the MOF as the government’s chief financial and economic advisor, and the BOJ as the country’s central bank that maintains stability in the financial system.