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Sterling, Japanese yen slump on investor anxiety over public finances

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  Published in Business and Finance on Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 at 6:03 GMT by reuters.com
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Sterling and the Yen Tumble as Public‑Finance Worries Spread Across the Globe

In a swift move that rattled global markets on September 2, the British pound and the Japanese yen both slid sharply against major benchmarks. The pound slipped roughly 0.8 % against the euro to its lowest level in nearly a decade, while the yen slipped about 1 % against the U.S. dollar, touching a 2014 low. Traders and investors pointed to mounting anxiety over the fiscal positions of the United Kingdom and Japan—two economies that have been battling high debt burdens and uncertain growth prospects.

A Dual‑Currency Drop Amid Debt‑Driven Anxiety

The decline in sterling followed a pattern of volatility that has been unfolding since the UK government began a high‑interest‑rate policy aimed at taming inflation. Yet even this stance, which had previously been perceived as a sign of confidence, has started to be questioned as the fiscal situation looks more precarious. Meanwhile, the yen’s fall echoed a long‑running debate over Japan’s enormous debt‑to‑GDP ratio and the feasibility of a lasting fiscal consolidation plan.

At the centre of the pound’s slide were concerns that the Chancellor’s upcoming budget might not deliver the promised cuts in the fiscal deficit. Analysts noted that, after a 4 % rise in public debt during the pandemic, the UK’s debt‑to‑GDP ratio has reached around 100 %. The Treasury’s latest projections indicate that the deficit could stay above 5 % of GDP for several years unless spending is trimmed or tax revenue increases. With interest‑rate expectations now leaning toward a possible easing in the second half of 2025, the pound’s valuation was hit hard.

The yen’s decline, meanwhile, was tied to worries about Japan’s fiscal health. The country’s debt‑to‑GDP ratio—already the world’s highest at roughly 300 %—has been a source of concern for years. A 2024 report by the Japanese Ministry of Finance highlighted a projected fiscal deficit of 0.8 % of GDP in 2025, higher than the 0.6 % target set by the 2025 fiscal plan. Coupled with the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) decision to keep policy rates at negative territory and its massive purchase programme, the yen has become more vulnerable to sudden shifts in risk sentiment.

Market Reactions and Risk Appetite

When the pound fell, the U.K. equity index dropped 0.6 %, reflecting a broader fear that an easing of monetary policy could trigger a sharp rise in inflation and hamper the country’s fiscal consolidation. In Japan, the Nikkei index slipped 0.5 % as the yen’s fall signalled a potential shift in global risk appetite that could ripple through bond markets. Treasury yields in both countries spiked slightly: the 10‑year U.K. gilt rose to 3.75 %, while the Japanese 10‑year government bond yielded 0.75 %.

Notably, the Swiss franc and the Australian dollar also suffered modest losses, as the broader risk‑off environment tightened. The dollar, in contrast, strengthened as it was seen as a haven currency, rising 0.5 % against a basket of major currencies. In the commodities arena, gold prices fell by 2 % as investors moved away from safe‑haven assets in favour of riskier assets, though the market remained cautious.

Analyst Take‑aways

Several market analysts weighed in on the developing situation:

• David Hart, a senior economist at the Bank of England, warned that the pound’s depreciation might reflect a shift in expectations that the Bank of England will lower rates sooner than previously forecast. He added that the pound is still “surprisingly resilient” given the UK’s fiscal trajectory, implying that market sentiment has not yet fully incorporated all the fiscal data.

• Yasuko Tanaka of the Tokyo Finance Institute emphasized that the yen’s decline was not only a reflection of domestic debt concerns but also of a global move away from Japanese bonds. Tanaka noted that “the BoJ’s future policy direction is still ambiguous, and the yen’s volatility may be a sign that investors are looking for alternatives.”

• John McLeod, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, highlighted that the “dual‑currency drop” underscores a global trend in which investors are reassessing the sustainability of large‑scale fiscal deficits. He suggested that the risk of a “twin‑debt crisis” could become a central theme for markets over the next year.

Policy and Outlook

The British Treasury has signalled that it will push for a 1.5 % fiscal consolidation over the next two years, targeting a 3 % deficit by 2027. However, the Treasury also acknowledged that external shocks—such as a global slowdown or higher commodity prices—could complicate the path forward. The BoJ, meanwhile, has hinted at the possibility of tapering its bond‑purchase programme in late 2025, a move that could further pressure the yen.

Both governments face a delicate balancing act: maintaining investor confidence by committing to fiscal discipline while avoiding stifling growth. The current currency slump reflects the market’s attempt to recalibrate expectations around this delicate balance.

What’s Next for Sterling and the Yen?

As the week progressed, sterling showed signs of modest recovery, closing the session up 0.2 % against the euro, but the yen remained under pressure. The next key data points will likely come from the UK’s inflation report, the Treasury’s monthly fiscal updates, and the BoJ’s upcoming policy meeting.

Financial commentators predict that if the UK’s fiscal deficit widens or if the BoJ begins a decisive shift away from ultra‑loose policy, both currencies could face additional downward pressure. Conversely, a stronger-than‑expected fiscal performance in the UK or a clearer path toward debt reduction in Japan could buoy the pound and the yen.

For now, the dual‑currency drop underscores the tightrope that global markets walk between maintaining fiscal prudence and sustaining growth in an environment of high public debt. The next few months will be crucial as policymakers and investors assess whether fiscal realities and monetary policy can align to restore confidence in both sterling and the yen.