08.04.2026 05:01

The Japanese yen appreciated sharply against the U.S. dollar during Wednesday’s Asian session, pushing the USD/JPY pair down roughly three‑quarters of a percent to the vicinity of 158.40. This move reflected a retreat in demand for traditional safe‑haven currencies after Washington and Tehran announced a temporary halt to hostilities.

A two‑week cease‑fire, confirmed by President Donald Trump on his Truth.Social account, suspends planned strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure while Iran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint through which nearly one‑fifth of global oil traffic passes. The de‑escalation eased geopolitical tensions, prompting investors to shift away from yen‑denominated assets.

Currency‑cross data underscores the yen’s relative strength: it gained 0.76 % versus the euro, 0.09 % versus the pound, and 0.42 % versus the Canadian dollar, while slipping marginally against the Australian and New Zealand dollars and the Swiss franc. The accompanying heat map visualises these shifts, with the yen appearing as the dominant base currency when measured against the dollar.

Broader market gauges corroborated the risk‑on sentiment. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) slipped about half a percent to hover near 99.00, and S&P 500 futures rallied almost 2.5 %, approaching the 6,777‑point level as traders interpreted the cease‑fire as a sign of reduced conflict risk.