Nyheter
Limit to Yen rally after BOJ disappoints
Limit to Yen rally after BOJ disappoints. The Japanese Yen rallied over 3% against the US Dollar after the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) latest policy decision to ‘stay the course’ with its current stimulus stance and nearly 10% ytd. Such a policy decision is refreshing.
It seems that foreign Japanese investors’ and firms are losing faith with the economic management of the country and reacting by hedging foreign exposures against adverse Yen movements With ongoing concerns over inflation and with the Fed beginning its tightening cycle.
Decades of low inflation and weak growth have rendered policymakers ineffective in the eyes of investors and burgeoning local savings have moved offshore in search of better returns. Offshore markets provided returns but the Yen’s safe haven characteristic, a stronger local currency can offset better offshore returns. IMF research asserts that the stronger Yen is likely due to a ‘portfolio rebalancing through derivative positions’, which is to say domestic foreign positions being hedged against adverse Yen movements. Limit to Yen rally after BOJ disappoints
Unconventional policy
Unconventional policy does need to be deployed in Japan and perhaps the key reason is hidden in its December monetary policy statement. The BOJ speaks of the ‘conversion of firms’ and households’ deflationary mindset has been progressing’, which is key to raising inflationary expectations and in turn achieving the inflation target. So the BOJ feels its policy is working and that its move to negative interest rates can assist the ‘progress’.
While the market appears to be losing faith in the BOJ, the central bank appears to be committed to its unconventional policy and wants to see it work its way through the economy given time. Indeed, it was only in January that negative rates were implemented and monetary policy has a lagged impact. Japanese companies clearly hedge their foreign operations, whether that be trade or investment related. It is for this reason that central bank policy needs to be independent of market expectations and shouldn’t be concerned about the day-to-day gyrations of the local currency. The BOJ was right to ignore the market’s expectations for policy. Such a policy decision is refreshing in the light of the US Fed being swayed by market angst and potentially trapping itself in a dangerous policy spiral , which is based on the markets’ view and not fundamentals.
Nonetheless, we expect more stimulus in 2016 to come from the BOJ, and with the Fed tightening, we feel this knee-jerk rally to the latest policy move is limited.
Click to enlarge
Martin Arnold, Global FX & Commodity Strategist at ETF Securities
Martin Arnold joined ETF Securities as a research analyst in 2009 and was promoted to Global FX & Commodity Strategist in 2014. Martin has a wealth of experience in strategy and economics with his most recent role formulating an FX strategy at an independent research consultancy. Martin has a strong background in macroeconomics and financial analysis – gained both at the Reserve Bank of Australia and in the private commercial banking sector – and experience covering a range of asset classes including equities and bonds. Martin holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New South Wales (Australia), a Master of Commerce from the University of Wollongong (Australia) and attained a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.
2024 was a landmark year for bitcoin, solidifying its role as a fully institutionalised asset class.
Institutional inflows into physical bitcoin exchange-traded products (ETPs) reached nearly $35 billion globally, signalling a major shift in how traditional investors view crypto. As bitcoin continued to enhance portfolios’ risk-return profiles, more institutional investors followed suit, reshaping the financial landscape.
Looking ahead, 2025 promises to bring exciting developments across the crypto ecosystem. Here are the top five crypto trends to watch.
Fear of being left behind
The era of bitcoin as a niche investment is over. Institutional adoption is creating a ripple effect, forcing hesitant players to reconsider. Portfolios with bitcoin allocations are consistently outperforming those without, highlighting its growing importance.
Figure 1: Bitcoin in a multi-asset portfolio
| 60/40 Global Portfolio | 1% Bitcoin Portfolio | 3% Bitcoin Portfolio | 5% Bitcoin Portfolio | 10% Bitcoin Portfolio | MSCI AC World | Bloomberg Multiverse | Bitcoin | |
| Annualised Return | 5.77% | 6.46% | 7.83% | 9.20% | 12.57% | 9.07% | 0.56% | 56.24% |
| Volatility | 8.79% | 8.86% | 9.14% | 9.62% | 11.42% | 13.94% | 5.05% | 67.28% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.48 | 0.55 | 0.68 | 0.79 | 0.96 | 0.54 | -0.20 | 0.81 |
| Information Ratio | 1.01 | 1.01 | 1.01 | 1.00 | ||||
| Beta | 70% | 71% | 73% | 75% | 81% | 100% | 24% | 181% |
Source: Bloomberg, WisdomTree. From 31 December 2013 to 30 November 2024. In USD. Based on daily returns. The 60/40 Global Portfolio is composed of 60% MSCI All Country World and 40% Bloomberg Multiverse. You cannot invest directly in an index. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investment may go down in value.
With bitcoin’s ability to noticeably improve portfolios’ risk-return profiles, asset managers face a clear choice: integrate bitcoin into multi-asset portfolios or risk falling behind in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. In 2025, expect the competition to heat up as clients demand exposure to this powerhouse cryptocurrency.
Expanding crypto investment options
In 2024, regulatory breakthroughs opened the doors for physical bitcoin and ether ETPs in key developed markets. This marked a critical step towards making cryptocurrencies mainstream, providing seamless access to institutional and retail investors alike.
Figure 2: Global physical crypto ETP assets under management (AUM) and 2024 net flows
Source: Bloomberg, WisdomTree. 02 January 2025. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investment may go down in value.
In 2025, this momentum is expected to accelerate as the crypto regulatory environment becomes more friendly in the United States and as key developed markets follow Europe’s lead and approve ETPs for altcoins such as Solana and XRP. With their clear utility and growing adoption, these altcoins are strong candidates for institutional investment vehicles.
This next wave of altcoin ETPs will expand the diversity of crypto investment opportunities and further integrate cryptocurrencies into the global financial system.
The maturing of Ethereum’s layer-2 ecosystem
Ethereum’s role as the backbone of decentralised finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and Web3 is unmatched, but its scalability challenges remain a hurdle. Layer-2 solutions—technologies such as Arbitrum and Optimism—are transforming Ethereum’s scalability and usability by enabling faster, cheaper transactions.
In 2025, Ethereum’s recent upgrades, such as Proto-Danksharding (introduced in the ‘Dencun’ upgrade), will drive layer-2 adoption even further. Innovations like Visa’s layer-2 payment platform leveraging Ethereum for instant cross-border transactions will underscore the platform’s evolution.
Expect Ethereum’s layer-2 ecosystem to power real-world use cases ranging from tokenized assets to decentralised gaming, positioning it as the infrastructure of a truly scalable digital economy.
Stablecoins: bridging finance and blockchain
Stablecoins are becoming indispensable to the global financial system, offering the stability of traditional assets with the efficiency of blockchain. Platforms such as Ethereum dominate the stablecoin landscape, hosting stablecoin giants Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), which facilitate billions in daily transactions.
Figure 3: Key stablecoin chains
Source: Artemis Terminal, WisdomTree. 05 January 2025. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investment may go down in value.
As we move into 2025, stablecoins will increasingly interact with blockchain ecosystems such as Solana and XRP. Solana’s high-speed, low-cost infrastructure makes it ideal for stablecoin payments and remittances, while XRP Ledger’s focus on cross-border efficiency positions it as a leader in global settlements. With institutional adoption rising and DeFi applications booming, stablecoins will serve as the backbone of a seamless, interconnected financial ecosystem.
Tokenization: redefining ownership and revolutionising finance
Tokenization is set to redefine how we think about ownership and value. By converting tangible assets like real estate, commodities, stocks, and art into digital tokens, tokenization breaks down barriers to entry and creates unprecedented liquidity.
In 2025, tokenization will expand dramatically, empowering investors to own fractions of high-value assets. Platforms such as Paxos Gold and AspenCoin are already showcasing how tokenization can revolutionize markets for gold and luxury real estate. The integration of tokenized assets into DeFi will unlock new financial opportunities, such as using tokenized real estate as collateral for loans. As tokenization matures, it will transform industries ranging from private equity to venture capital, creating a more inclusive and efficient financial system.
For the avoidance of any doubt, tokenization complements crypto by expanding the use cases of blockchain to include real-world applications.
Looking ahead
2025 is set to be a defining year for crypto, as innovation, regulation, and adoption converge. Whether it is bitcoin cementing its position as a portfolio staple, Ethereum scaling for mainstream use, or tokenization unlocking liquidity in untapped markets, the crypto ecosystem is poised for explosive growth. For investors and institutions alike, the opportunities have never been clearer or more compelling.
This material is prepared by WisdomTree and its affiliates and is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of the date of production and may change as subsequent conditions vary. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by WisdomTree, nor any affiliate, nor any of their officers, employees or agents. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
FLXA ETF investerar enligt katolska principer
5 crypto trends to watch in 2025
FGLR ETF gör hållbara investeringar i hela världen
Trump’s inauguration day, BTC all-time high and the US election bullish effect
AXA IM antar SDR-märkningar för tre aktiefonder i Storbritannien
De mest eftersökta ETFerna i december 2024
Post-election rally cools at year end
De bästa ETFerna för värdeaktier
BlackRock slår rekord med lanseringen av bitcoin ETF
Hector McNeil kommenterar Trumps krav på Natos försvarsutgifter
-
Nyheter3 veckor sedanDe mest eftersökta ETFerna i december 2024
-
Nyheter2 veckor sedanPost-election rally cools at year end
-
Nyheter3 veckor sedanDe bästa ETFerna för värdeaktier
-
Nyheter3 veckor sedanBlackRock slår rekord med lanseringen av bitcoin ETF
-
Nyheter3 veckor sedanHector McNeil kommenterar Trumps krav på Natos försvarsutgifter
-
Nyheter3 veckor sedanBuffertstrategin på Nasdaq-100 med december 2024/2025 som ny målperiod
-
Nyheter4 veckor sedanValour PYTH SEK spårar priset på kryptovalutan PYTH
-
Nyheter1 vecka sedanHANetfs Tom Bailey om utsikterna för koppar och uran
