NEW YORK: The dollar edged up against the yen on Monday as investors shifted their focus to political developments in Japan and the euro area, while US credit risk concerns lingered.
The yen weakened as hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi is almost certain to become Japan’s first female prime minister after a decisive parliamentary vote.
Her expected premiership, backed by a new coalition with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party, has raised investor concerns over potential fiscal expansion, which could weigh on the yen.
“Market participants will now be watching closely to see what fiscal plans are put together by the new coalition government,” said MUFG senior currency economist Lee Hardman.
The dollar was up 0.03 percent to 150.535 yen, after hitting 151.20 earlier in the session.
Bank of Japan board member Hajime Takata, who voted against keeping rates steady in September, reiterated on Monday his case for resuming hikes, giving the Japanese currency some support.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei stock index closed more than 3 percent higher, hitting an all-time peak.
The BOJ next decides monetary policy on October 30, with market-implied odds of a quarter-point rate increase at 23 percent, LSEG data shows.
The euro edged slightly higher against the dollar as French political tensions eased, but investor caution lingered.
Markets have yet to fully price out French risk from the euro, with the government’s decision to freeze pension reform offering only a temporary political breather.
The euro was up 0.06 percent at USD1.1659.
US stock indexes ended higher on Friday after US President Donald Trump said his proposed 100 percent tariffs on China would not be sustainable, while upbeat quarterly results from regional banks helped ease credit risk concerns.
After a turbulent week in which some regional US banks flagged bad loan and fraud issues, investors are now awaiting more earnings to check for signs of wider sector strain.
The US dollar index, a measure of its value relative to a basket of other major foreign currencies, fell 0.047 percent to 98.489. It hit 98.025 on Friday, its lowest level since October 6.
“The immediate danger seems to have passed as investors are convinced that the bankruptcies, bad loans and fraud accusations are all isolated incidents, and not part of widespread failings within the banking sector,” David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation, said in a note. Economists said the dollar’s resilience will be tested on multiple fronts.
“One, the government shutdown is hurting economic activity, both directly and indirectly,” said Klaus Baader, global chief economist at Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking (SGCIB), adding US-China tensions were a second major concern.
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