Bessent Dares Traders to Bet Against Yen
Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent challenged traders to counter his efforts to strengthen Japan's currency, saying when he makes market calls these days he's effectively doing so with inside information. Bessent, a former hedge fund executive, was reviewing occasions when he's intervened in markets, including the joint purchases of yen he mounted with Japan's government on July 31. While the yen initially jumped, gains ebbed in subsequent sessions, in part as traders highlighted the Treasury's limited firepower to deploy in foreign-exchange purchases. We spoke to Bloomberg MLIV Strategist Mark Cranfield. And - One of the largest institutions in South Korea, KB Financial Group, will be holding its KBFG Korea Conference. Bloomberg's Stephen Engle spoke to Gavekal CEO Louis-Vincent Gave.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Yen Climbs to Six-Month High
Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. The yen extended Monday's rally to reach the strongest level since February, aided by rising expectations of a Bank of Japan interest-rate increase next week. Gains in South Korean chip stocks helped support Asian equities. Japan's currency rose as much as 0.8% to 153.16 per dollar after appreciating 1.2% on Monday. The latest advance suggests the currency's rally set in motion by the intervention push from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama may be taking on a life of its own. We speak to Bloomberg's MLIV Strategist David Savage. And - Sapporo Breweries is shifting some production to the US from Canada due to 50% tariffs imposed on beer exports from the country, Chief Strategy Officer Rieko Shofu said. In an EXCLUSIVE conversation with Bloomberg's Shery Ahn, Shofu discussed how the No. 1 Asian beer brand in the US is impacted by tariffs, as well as the Iran war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
US-Iran Trade Attacks, Strong US Jobs
Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. Asian stocks rose after US technology shares advanced on Friday. Oil climbed after the US and Iran traded tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Bloomberg's Paul Allen spoke to Daan Struyven, Goldman Sachs Co-head of Global Commodities Research. And - in the US last Friday, yields were marginlly higher, more so at the front-end of the Treasury curve, given a very strong employment report for August. The American economy added 162,000 jobs last month. The data sparked a re-rating of expectations on a Fed rate hike later this month. Up next for investors is this weeks US CPI data. The Fed's September rate decision hinges in part of the data. Bloomberg's Avril Hong spoke to Deepali Bhargava, ING Head of Research and Chief Economist for APAC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Daybreak Weekend: US CPI, ECB Decision, BRICS Summit
Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to the U.S CPI and PPI reports and a focus on 3 stocks for the week ahead. In the UK – a look ahead to the next decision from the European Central Bank. In Asia – a look ahead to the 18th BRICS Summit in India. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Waller Comments on Fed
Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. Asian stocks and currencies rose as investors pared bets on a Federal Reserve interest-rate hike this month, weakening the dollar. The yen strengthened, with traders lifting bets on Bank of Japan rate hikes and remaining vigilant to the risk of official action to further boost the currency. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said he'd be willing to support holding rates steady if price pressures continue to show signs of easing. Waller said his next decision on rates will be "heavily influenced" by August inflation data due next week. Waller's remarks helped weaken the dollar, but the yen rallied, strengthening against the dollar by 1.9%. For more, Bloomberg TV Host Shery Ahn spoke with Yujio Goto, head of Japan FX strategy at Nomura and Bloomberg TV Host Haidi Stroud-Watts spoke with Suresh Tantia, CIO of Asia Equity Strategy UBS Global Wealth Management.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.