Three ETFs to Play a Weaker Yen
Michael Johnston submits:
Frustration in Japan is running high these days, as the thorn in the side of the struggling Asian economy digs deeper still. While many in America cheer any appreciation in the dollar–a strong greenback makes Asian electronics and European vacations more affordable–Japan has learned the hard way about the adverse impacts of a rallying local currency. As a fresh wave of risk aversion has washed over global financial markets, the Japanese yen recently hit a 15-year high against the dollar, baffling policy makers who have made a gradual weakening of the currency a primary goal.
A strong yen may be good for Japanese consumers who buy significant amounts of overseas goods, but it’s bad for the country’s stock market. A strong yen makes Japanese goods more expensive to international consumers, a potentially devastating development for an export-dependent economy. As the yen has continued its climb higher, Japanese companies have seen demand for their products fall sharply. The CFO for automaker Honda recently noted that cars made in Japan at an exchange rate near 85 yen to the dollar “are not economically feasible.”
Heya, really awesome site. Thanks for finding the time to publish those fascinating posts