Introduction to Carry Trade

Recent volatility in global stock markets has intensified due to the Bank of Japan's interest rate hike, primarily driven by the yen's appreciation and the unwinding of large-scale carry trades. In a carry trade, investors borrow low-interest yen and invest in higher-yield assets like U.S. Treasuries or U.S. equities to earn a yield differential. However, the Bank of Japan's rate hike has pushed up the yen’s exchange rate, increasing both currency and liquidity risks. This has prompted investors to swiftly unwind their positions to repay yen loans, creating selling pressure in the market. This shift has reduced the attractiveness of carry trades and impacted market liquidity.