Nikkei Index drops sharply amid yen strength concerns
The yen’s strength intensified as the US Federal Reserve is anticipated to announce a 0.5% rate cut at the ongoing Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. This expected reduction would narrow the interest rate differential between Japan and the US, pushing the yen to a high of 139 per dollar—its strongest level in over a year. Although the yen has recently settled in the high 140s per dollar, the threat of further appreciation remains, prompting heavy selling of export-driven stocks like Toyota. The impact of a stronger yen is feared to erode profitability for exporters, exacerbating market volatility.