Japan turns up FX heat as volatility rises, signals readiness to act

try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Trump warns of strikes on Iran power plants, bridges in new post Hegseth fires Army Chief George as Iran war intensifies, oil surges Nasdaq, S&P 500 eke out marginal gain but shortened week ends with muted sentiment Gold prices fall as traders move into safe haven dollar on Trump’s Iran escalation (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) Japan turns up FX heat as volatility rises, signals readiness to act By Economy Published 04/02/2026, 10:21 PM Updated 04/03/2026, 12:18 AM Japan turns up FX heat as volatility rises, signals readiness to act 1 US Dollar Japanese Yen -0.06% CL -0.40% JGB -0.21% JP10YT=XX -0.08% By Makiko Yamazaki and Rocky Swift TOKYO, April 3 - Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama on Friday put currency traders on notice, saying the government stands ready to act against speculative moves in foreign exchange markets as volatility has risen "significantly." The yen , trading near the psychologically key 160-per-dollar mark, lingered at levels that have repeatedly stoked concerns of market intervention, underscoring growing unease in Tokyo over the speed and scale of its decline. "We are seeing a rise in speculative activity in both crude oil futures and foreign exchange markets, and volatility has increased significantly," Katayama said at a regular press conference. Katayama has previously flagged speculative activity, but her latest comments highlight growing concerns among authorities as currency markets turn increasingly volatile. "As exchange-rate volatility driven by these developments is affecting the livelihoods and economy of the public, we are prepared to respond fully on all fronts," the finance minister said. Traders say markets are nervous about a possible yen-buying intervention by Tokyo, especially after Japan’s top currency diplomat Atsushi Mimura issued his strongest warning yet of action on Monday. Still, many doubt the firepower of any intervention at a time when geopolitic...