Yen Surges Into 157 Range as Japan Leaves Coordinated Intervention Option Open

Jul 31, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - The yen surged in foreign exchange trading on July 30, briefly strengthening into the 157 range against the dollar, as Japan's top currency official declined to rule out the possibility of coordinated intervention with the United States.

Masato Kanda's successor as vice finance minister for international affairs, Atsushi Mimura, said he believed Japan had received support from U.S. authorities that went beyond verbal encouragement.

"I understand that we have received support from the U.S. authorities that goes beyond mere moral support," Mimura said.

Mimura declined to comment on whether authorities had intervened in the currency market. Asked about the yen's current weakness, he said the government would simply "take appropriate action."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, was asked in a FOX Business interview on July 30 whether Japan may have conducted currency intervention.

"I think the Japanese yen is very undervalued," Bessent said. "At some point, it will be reassessed in line with the fundamentals, and people will realize that it should move in the direction of a stronger yen."

Source: テレ東BIZ

Typhoon No. 13 Moves West at Violent Strength

Typhoon No. 13 (Dolphin), located near Wake Island and moving west-northwest as of 5 a.m. on July 31, is forecast to become the strongest typhoon of the year as it heads toward the Ogasawara Islands, where heavy rain, violent winds and extremely rough seas are expected early next week.

Kyushu Shinkansen Reopens Northern Section as Southern Damage Persists

Kyushu Shinkansen services between Hakata and Kumamoto resumed on a reduced schedule on July 31 after a three-day suspension caused by the earthquake, while extensive rail damage has left no timetable for reopening the section south to Kagoshima-Chuo.

Rescue Efforts Continue in Kumamoto as 72-Hour Mark Nears

Rescue operations continued across Kumamoto Prefecture as the critical 72-hour period approached following the July 28 earthquake that registered the maximum seismic intensity of 7, with authorities confirming 34 deaths by July 30.

Kego Fault Zone Also Faces Unruptured Segment Risk

The Kego Fault Zone running through central Fukuoka could produce an earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 7, leaving 1,800 people dead, 800 disaster-related deaths and 319,000 evacuees, according to prefectural damage estimates, as experts warn that an unruptured section may remain under stress.

Heat, Outages and Shortages Deepen Kumamoto Quake Crisis

The death toll from the powerful Kumamoto earthquake rose to 30 as of 12:30 p.m. on July 30, including people whose deaths were still being investigated for a possible connection to the disaster, while rescue crews continued searching collapsed buildings and other damaged sites.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Nikkei Jumps 2,494 Points as BOJ Hold and AI Rebound Lift Tokyo

Tokyo stocks surged on July 31, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 64,362.02, up 2,494.59 points, as a sharp rebound in Asian semiconductor shares and strong U.S. technology earnings outweighed caution over the Bank of Japan’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged while warning that inflation risks remain tilted to the upside.

Yen Surges Into 157 Range as Japan Leaves Coordinated Intervention Option Open

The yen surged in foreign exchange trading on July 30, briefly strengthening into the 157 range against the dollar, as Japan's top currency official declined to rule out the possibility of coordinated intervention with the United States.

BOJ Keeps Policy Rate Steady at Around 1.0%

The Bank of Japan kept its policy rate unchanged at around 1.0% on July 31, warning that higher crude oil costs and the weaker yen could push up prices across a broad range of consumer goods.

DisneySea Anniversary Drives Record Profit

Oriental Land, the operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, posted record net profit for the April-June quarter as Tokyo DisneySea's 25th anniversary event increased attendance and sales of paid priority access services.

Japan Ships Next-Generation Bullet Train to Taiwan

A consortium formed by Hitachi and Toshiba shipped a new high-speed train to Taiwan on July 30, marking the first delivery under a 124 billion yen order placed to meet growing passenger demand on the island's high-speed rail network.

Yen Surges Against US Dollar

The yen surged nearly 5 yen against the dollar late on July 30, briefly reaching the upper 157 range and prompting speculation that the Japanese government and Bank of Japan had intervened in the foreign exchange market.

Will Kumamoto Quake Drive Overseas Chipmakers Away?

The magnitude 7-level earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28 has disrupted operations at semiconductor-related facilities across one of Japan's most important chipmaking centers, raising concerns about possible delays in equipment shipments and their impact on the global industry.

Nikkei Edges Higher as Electronics Gains Offset Bank Selling

Tokyo stocks ended mixed on July 30, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 61,683.96, up 0.4%, as gains in electronics and selected semiconductor-related shares offset selling in financial stocks ahead of the Bank of Japan’s policy decision.

< 2 3 4 5 >