U.S. POLICY HEADACHE AS JAPAN OUTPACES THE S&P 500 BY 81% – BANK OF JAPAN RATE HIKE SENDS YEN LOWER
By Nigam Arora
To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
Reaction To Japan Rate Hike
Please click here for a chart comparing S&P 500 ETF (SPY) which represents the benchmark stock market index S&P 500 (SPX) and Japan ETF (EWJ).
Note the following:
- The chart shows Japan ETF EWJ has outperformed S&P 500 by 81%. Excluding the impact of the currencies, Nikkei 225 has outperformed the S&P by about 152% year-to-date.
- Overnight, Bank of Japan (BOJ) increased its key interest rate to 1.25%. This is the highest rate in three decades.
- Expectations were that if BOJ were to raise its key rate, the yen would strengthen.
September 18, 2026