The Bank of Japan does not keep office hours
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2026 8:33 pm
The Bank of Japan does not keep office hours
Most central banks announce decisions at a fixed time. The Bank of Japan does not. Its meetings end when they end, and the announcement tends to come somewhere around midday Tokyo time, sometimes earlier, sometimes later, with no precise schedule.
This leaves yen traders watching a clock that means nothing. The market sits, spreads wide, waiting for a headline that could come at any minute. When it arrives, USDJPY and the yen crosses can move 100 pips in moments.
Rumours and leaks add to the uncertainty. Reports in the Japanese press sometimes precede the decision, moving price before the official release.
For short term traders, a sensible approach is reducing size on yen pairs during BoJ days, avoiding fresh entries near midday Tokyo, and being ready for a late announcement.
It is also worth remembering the second event, the governor's press conference, which can overturn the first reaction.
A related point: the yen crosses, such as EURJPY and GBPJPY, usually amplify the move in USDJPY, with wider spreads and sharper slippage, so the risk compounds for anyone holding them.
Has a BoJ day ever produced a surprise that no calendar predicted?
Most central banks announce decisions at a fixed time. The Bank of Japan does not. Its meetings end when they end, and the announcement tends to come somewhere around midday Tokyo time, sometimes earlier, sometimes later, with no precise schedule.
This leaves yen traders watching a clock that means nothing. The market sits, spreads wide, waiting for a headline that could come at any minute. When it arrives, USDJPY and the yen crosses can move 100 pips in moments.
Rumours and leaks add to the uncertainty. Reports in the Japanese press sometimes precede the decision, moving price before the official release.
For short term traders, a sensible approach is reducing size on yen pairs during BoJ days, avoiding fresh entries near midday Tokyo, and being ready for a late announcement.
It is also worth remembering the second event, the governor's press conference, which can overturn the first reaction.
A related point: the yen crosses, such as EURJPY and GBPJPY, usually amplify the move in USDJPY, with wider spreads and sharper slippage, so the risk compounds for anyone holding them.
Has a BoJ day ever produced a surprise that no calendar predicted?