Tomoko Fujii Japanese Quotations

Japanese institutional investors seem to have sought returns by selling dollar-denominated assets. That kind of repatriation is generally yen positive.

Expectations of further Fed rate increases haven't peaked yet, while rate hikes by the Bank of Japan are a long way off. Along with Japanese investors continuing enthusiasm for overseas assets, that will likely push up the dollar in coming weeks.

Pressure on China to revalue against the dollar leads other Asian currencies, including the Japanese yen, to strengthen against the U.S. currency.

The markets have already priced in at least one rate hike and are beginning to price in the second rate hike by year-end. Combined with the steady recovery of the Japanese economy, those expectations are likely to push up the yen.