Japan Stock Market Trades Lower as Stronger Yen against US Dollar Hurts Exporters

Japan’s shares plunged on February 12, following global markets, after a stronger yen against the dollar hurt the country’s big exporters.

Nikkei 225 fell as much as 5.4% in early trade. By the close, the benchmark index had recovered slightly, but was still down 4.85% to 14,952.61 points.

That was below the psychologically important level of 15,000 points and its lowest close since October 2014.

Today’s losses end what has been a turbulent week of trade for Japan.

The index has shed more than 11% over the trading week, which was short because of a public holiday on February 11.

Japan’s big exporters were hurt on February 12 as the dollar fell to a 15-month low against the yen. A stronger yen against the dollar hurts Japan’s exporters, as it makes their products more expensive to purchase overseas.

Auto maker Toyota finished Japan’s trading day down 7%, while Honda lost 5.5% and Nissan shed 5.8%.

Overnight, benchmark indexes in London, the US and Europe posted sharp declines amid continued worries about oil prices and over the strength of the global economy – particularly the outlook for the world’s largest economy, the US.

US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen’s gloomy economic assessment on February 10 was continuing to hurt investor sentiment around the world, analysts said.

Janet Yellen said financial conditions in the US had become “less supportive” of growth, dousing hopes of a second rise in interest rates in the near future.