Rising yields and a surging USD/JPY are fueling concern that tighter Bank of Japan policy could pressure the yen carry trade and worsen strains on import-dependent businesses.
A weakening yen pushed bankruptcies in Japan to record levels this week as domestic yields and USD/JPY climbed sharply. The Bank of Japan also signaled it will keep raising interest rates for the foreseeable future, adding to market concern about a possible unwind of the yen carry trade, a strategy in which investors borrow in low-yielding yen to fund purchases of higher-yielding assets elsewhere. The combination points to growing stress in Japan’s economy and financial markets, particularly for companies exposed to higher import costs and tighter funding conditions.