Earlier this week, Japan's central bank made a bold move in the currency markets. What happened, and what does it mean for your portfolio?
The Bank of Japan, after weeks of warnings, stepped into the currency market and actively purchased a large quantity of Japanese yen. That currency recently plunged to a 24-year low against the U.S. dollar. It was the first intervention to strengthen the yen since 1998, and the Japan's first intervention of any kind since 2011.
After reaching a string of multi-decade lows, the yen jumped higher on the news.
Charts by TradeStation
What does this mean for your portfolio? On the above chart, the Bank of Japan is selling U.S. dollars to buy Japanese yen. Since everything in the world of currencies is relative, a stronger yen means a weaker dollar.
That's welcome news for U.S. companies that earn a significant portion of their revenue overseas. The greenback has been on a relentless tear since the start of this year, and recently reached a 20-year high.
Here's the important thing to understand about Japan's intervention in the currency markets: If history is a guide, it's unlikely that this is a one-time affair. The Bank of Japan is likely to continue sporadic currency interventions at a variety of price levels until the desired results are achieved. Japan is strengthening its currency in order to control inflation, as the cost of imports such as oil is skyrocketing.
It's unlikely that Japan's actions will result in a complete reversal of the dollar trend. But currency intervention is likely to slow or perhaps stall the current trend toward dollar strength.
Why is this good for U.S. companies? Just look at some recent headlines from some widely-held names:
Microsoft (MSFT) reported that unfavorable currency movements cost the company about $600 million in revenue. The company recently announced its slowest revenue growth in two years.
Apple (AAPL) just announced it is raising App Store prices in every country that uses the euro, as well as Japan, Pakistan, and South Korea. This is to compensate for unfavorable exchange rates in those countries.
Oracle (ORCL) recently missed earnings estimates and lowered guidance because of currency risks.
As we can see, tech stocks have high exposure to the negative effects of a strong dollar. Therefore, this sector has the most to gain if the trend of dollar strength is stalled. While strengthening its own currency, Japan could prove to be tech's best friend.
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