Country: JP | Published: 2026-09-16
Japan's export growth slowed for the first time in six months even as exports stayed firm overall, with oil-driven import costs keeping the country in its fourth straight monthly t
Japan's export growth slowed for the first time in six months even as exports stayed firm overall, with oil-driven import costs keeping the country in its fourth straight monthly trade deficit. Retail currency traders remain skeptical of a stronger yen, continuing to pile up short bets ahead of a widely expected Bank of Japan rate hike to a three-decade high as inflation risks linger. Geopolitical friction with China and Russia adds a watchful backdrop, though the market pulse still centers on the yen and the central bank's next move.