The Japanese yen continued its fall relative to the U.S. dollar, trading at 126.3 yesterday, its lowest level against the U.S. dollar in nearly 20 years. Expert commentary suggests the yen could trade in the 130 yen range.

While there are several conditions that have led to the rise of the dollar, such as the geopolitical turmoil of the Russia-Ukraine war roiling global markets, it primarily reflects different monetary policy approaches between Japan’s central bank and the U.S. Federal Reserve.

For me, the stronger dollar means I receive more yen when transferring funds from U.S. bank accounts to Japan as well as lower prices for credit card purchases.