Tokyo, Jan 25, 2026, 10:00 JST — The market has closed.
- Renesas ended Friday at 2,513.5 yen, slipping 0.16%.
- Talk of currency intervention has roiled the yen, a critical factor for exporters as markets open Monday.
- Renesas will release its full-year results on Feb. 5.
Renesas Electronics Corporation shares slipped 0.16% to close at 2,513.5 yen on Friday. With Tokyo markets closed Sunday, traders are eyeing the yen as the key driver heading into the next session. 1
The yen surged Friday after the New York Federal Reserve ran “rate checks” on the dollar/yen pair, a source told Reuters. Rate checks involve officials querying dealers on pricing, often seen by traders as a hint that intervention might be on the horizon. 2
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi zeroed in on the issue Sunday, pledging government action against “speculative or very abnormal market moves” following the sharp yen rally that revived intervention speculation. 3
In currency trading toward the end of the week, Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Capital Markets, pointed to “fear of intervention” as the sole obvious driver. Erik Bregar, director of FX and precious metals risk management at Silver Gold Bull, described the market as “a little bit more anxious.” 4
The broader market remains unsettled. Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay, described the yen’s move as “uniquely rapid and significant,” suggesting it could stem from official intervention or traders racing to position themselves. 5
Semiconductor stocks stumbled before the weekend. Intel’s shares dropped sharply following a gloomy forecast, weighing on risk appetite despite resilience from some major tech players, according to a Reuters report. 6
Japan’s latest data painted a somewhat sunnier picture on demand. A private-sector survey revealed January manufacturing activity climbed back into growth territory after a seven-month slump, while new export orders surged at their quickest rate since late 2021. 7
Renesas is set to release its full-year 2025 financial results on Feb. 5, as noted in its investor calendar. 8
Renesas has confirmed it won’t discuss its upcoming results until that date, leaving investors to rely more on market cues and sector trends in the interim. 9
Investors will zero in on the tone regarding automotive and industrial demand once the numbers are out, searching for signals about customer inventories. The yen also plays a key role—its fluctuations can shift how overseas sales and profits convert back into yen.
But the situation works both ways. Should the yen gain more ground amid intervention rumors, exporters could face headwinds. At the same time, a sharper drop in U.S. chip shares would probably drag down Japan’s semiconductor stocks when markets open.
All eyes turn to Bank of Japan intervention data set for Monday evening. After that, focus shifts quickly to Renesas, which reports on February 5 and will lay out its forecast for the new fiscal year.
