Hedge Funds, Asset Managers Take Opposite Yen Bets Amid BOJ Talk

Hedge funds and asset managers were split on their yen views as the Bank of Japan laid the ground for an end to its negative-rate policy.

Leveraged funds cut net yen shorts to the lowest level since February 2023 in the seven days ended Jan. 23 when BOJ announced its last policy decision, according to a report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. In contrast, asset managers, such as pension funds and insurance companies, boosted net shorts by the most since May when the investors switched to shorts from longs.

Japan’s currency strengthened as much as 0.8% against the ...