Japanese government bond yields ticked up on Tuesday following moves in overnight US Treasuries, stoking market speculation the Bank of Japan could speed up rate hikes to counter yen weakness. Japan’s finance minister Katayama held an online call with US Treasury Secretary Bessent on Monday amid volatile FX; NHK and Kyodo reported the talks likely covered the exchange rate and may have included the possibility of FX intervention. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities senior bond strategist Ke

Japanese government bond yields ticked up on Tuesday following moves in overnight US Treasuries, stoking market speculation the Bank of Japan could speed up rate hikes to counter yen weakness. Japan’s finance minister Katayama held an online call with US Treasury Secretary Bessent on Monday amid volatile FX; NHK and Kyodo reported the talks likely covered the exchange rate and may have included the possibility of FX intervention. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities senior bond strategist Keisuke Tsuruta said Bessent’s past actions have helped create conditions conducive to BOJ tightening and that the meeting could prompt market bets on faster hikes. Sumitomo Mitsui analyst Lisa Mochizuki noted USD/JPY in the mid-161s increases the likelihood the BOJ will signal a more hawkish stance, which could push mid-dated JGB yields higher.