Speculators turn bullish on yen for first time since February on BOJ rate-hike bets
Yen has surged in September on expectations for an accelerated schedule of rate hikes by the BOJ
For the first time since February, speculators have adopted a net long position on the yen, reflecting growing confidence in the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) announcements of accelerated rate hikes, according to data released on Friday, September 11. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission's yen futures data revealed 10,796 long contracts, marking a significant shift from a net short position of 92,227 the previous week, and the first overall long reading since February 24.
This surge in yen's value, driven by expectations of a more aggressive BOJ monetary tightening policy, has seen the US dollar-yen rate reach 152.89 on September 8, the highest level since February 17. The yen's decline, which reached a four-decade low of 163.99 per US dollar in July, accelerated following the election of fiscal dove Sanae Takaichi as prime minister in October 2025 and growing doubts about the BOJ's timeliness in implementing rate hikes.
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Also reported by 3 other outlets
- Speculators turn net long on yen for first time since February brecorder.com
- Speculators turn net long on yen for first time since February channelnewsasia.com
- Speculators turn net long on yen for first time since February investing.com
