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Why does Trump care about the Japanese yen?

The US has stepped in to back Japan's yen, the country's currency. What is Washington hoping to achieve, and what does the move reveal about Japan's struggling economy?

In a highly unusual move, the US has stepped in to back Japan's currency, the yen. Donald Trump calls it a "signal of friendship" but what is Washington hoping to achieve? And what does the move reveal about Japan's economy, after years of deflation and ultra-low interest rates? Rahul Tandon and Will Bain assess the intervention with the help of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ's "yen geek" Mariko Oi.

Presenters: Rahul Tandon, Will Bain and Mariko Oi
Producer: Gideon Long

You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

(Picture: A woman walks past a stock market indicator board in Tokyo, Japan, 03 August 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

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