Japan’s 10-year government bond yield held around 2.18% on Wednesday as investors monitored developments in the Middle East and volatility in oil markets. The Trump administration sent mixed signals on the Iran war, with President Donald Trump saying the conflict could end soon amid mounting market pressure, while senior officials indicated that military operations were intensifying and that diplomatic talks remained unlikely. Meanwhile, oil prices fell further after reports that the IEA proposed the largest release of oil reserves in its history to help stabilize markets. Japan is highly vulnerable to oil shocks given its reliance on energy imports from the Middle East, but the country stands ready to tap its emergency reserves to offset supply risks. Separately, a sale of Japan’s five-year government bonds drew stronger demand than its 12-month average, reflecting receding expectations of a potential Bank of Japan rate hike.
