A Day When the Stronger Yen Shook the Market ーLearning from the Ehime Shimbun Economic Section August 4, 2026 (Tuesday) Reiwa8

Today, I studied the economic section of the Ehime Shimbun and learned about a wide range of topics, including foreign exchange, stocks, interest rates, and commodity markets.

The most memorable point was how a sudden rise in the value of the yen affected the stock market.

The yen moved to around 156 yen per US dollar, which means the yen became stronger compared with the previous level of around 160 yen. When the yen becomes stronger, Japanese export companies may suffer because their overseas earnings become smaller when converted back into yen. As a result, stocks related to automobiles, electronics, and other export industries were sold, and the Nikkei Stock Average fell by more than 600 yen.

However, not all companies declined. Some semiconductor-related companies and growth companies attracted buyers because expectations for artificial intelligence (AI) demand remained strong. I learned that stock prices do not move only because of current business results. They also move according to investors' expectations about the future growth of companies.

Looking at individual companies, Nippon Electric Glass fell because it lowered its profit forecast. On the other hand, Casio rose because it raised its expected profit. I learned that the same market can react very differently depending on how investors view the future of each company.

When looking at the performance of the 33 industry groups, many industries declined, but some areas, such as precision equipment, airlines, and retail, showed strength. Real estate and transportation equipment declined significantly. I learned that changes in exchange rates and interest rates affect each industry differently.

I also checked gold and platinum prices. When the stock market becomes unstable, investors often buy gold because it is considered a safe asset. Market prices are influenced not only by numbers but also by people's worries and expectations.

In addition, I studied vegetable and fruit prices from the Matsuyama Central Wholesale Market. Even products with the same name can have very different prices depending on their production area, quality, size, season, and supply conditions. I realized that, just like the stock market, prices are decided by the balance between supply and demand.

Finally, I learned a little about government bonds and futures. Although these areas are still difficult for me, I understood two basic ideas: bond prices and interest rates move in opposite directions, and futures are contracts that decide prices for future transactions.

Today's lesson was that the economy is not just a collection of numbers. It is a system where people's decisions, company strategies, and changes in the world are all connected.

By reading the newspaper little by little every day, I feel that I am gradually beginning to understand the flow of the economy.

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