U.S. Treasury Buys Yen to Support Japanese Currency Amid 40-Year Lows

The U.S. Treasury intervened on Friday by buying yen to support Japan's currency, marking the first joint intervention in over a decade. This action was facilitated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which sold euros for yen on behalf of the Treasury. The size of the yen purchase was not disclosed; however, a notepad from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated a potential purchase between $5-10 billion. The announcement of this intervention contributed to a rise in the yen, reducing the dollar to approximately 157.6 yen late Friday. This matters for investors as it signals concerted efforts to stabilize a currency that has recently been weak against the dollar.