Yen rises on demand for safe assets
A drop in Asian stocks and US shares has driven up the demand for safer assets. As a result, the yen has risen by 0.2% against the euro to 137.30, hitting a five-month high. The currency also strengthened against the dollar by 0.2% to 101.52.
The Japanese currency strengthened against all 16 of its major peers following the imposition of the EU and US’s moves to implement new sanctions on Russia over the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The euro dropped for the third consecutive day against the yen prior to a European report which predicted that inflation would be confirmed as having stayed below the central bank’s goal. Also, a gauge of the dollar was near a four-week high as economists said US data will show housing starts and a measure of manufacturing rose.
Speaking to Bloomberg, chief market strategist at IG Ltd Chris Weston says that there is more tactical, defensive positioning in the market which will likely be beneficial for the yen. “We’ve been suggesting declines and looking to short euro-yen,” he said, referring to a bet that the 18-nation currency will weaken.
Go to www.Youtube.com/deVereGroupchannel to watch the very latest deVere Group videos.