The End of an Era | Japan Loses Top Creditor Status After 34 Years
In a symbolic yet deeply revealing shift, Japan has officially lost its position as the world’s largest creditor nation — a title it held for 34 consecutive years. As of the end of 2024, Germany overtook Japan with net external assets totaling ¥570 trillion, compared to Japan’s ¥533 trillion. China remains in third.
#CapitalCompass, #GlobalDebtCrisis, #Japan, #BondYields, #FiscalPolicy, #Macroeconomics, #Germany, #SovereignDebt, #FixedIncome, #GlobalMarkets, #Geoeconomics, #InvestorStrategy, #BOJ, #USFiscalPolicy, #CentralBankExit, #DebtSustainability
The Quiet Retreat from US Treasuries — A Signal, Not Just a Strategy
China is no longer treating US Treasuries as untouchable. Since 2022, it has cut its official holdings by over 27%—not in retaliation, but as part of a quiet strategic pivot. The focus is shifting toward agency bonds, gold, and non-US assets to reduce exposure to American financial dominance. Japan hasn’t sold—but it has spoken. Its finance minister recently called the country’s $1.13 trillion in Treasuries a “card” in US trade negotiations, signaling a willingness to rethink even long-standing positions. The message from both is clear: global confidence in US debt is not vanishing—but it is no longer unconditional. As the US pursues more aggressive trade and economic policies, investors worldwide are starting to ask: what happens when the world’s most trusted asset becomes a geopolitical risk?
#USTreasuries, #GlobalFinance, #ChinaEconomy, #JapanEconomy, #Geopolitics, #USChinaRelations, #DeDollarisation, #SafeAssets, #GoldReserves, #ForeignReserves, #TradePolicy, #CapitalMarkets, #EconomicSecurity
As Global Confidence in U.S. Markets Wavers, Japanese Assets Become the Unexpected Safe Haven
Japan has attracted a record ¥9.64 trillion ($67.5 billion) in foreign inflows into its bonds and stocks in April 2025—the highest monthly figure since records began in 1996. This reflects a growing shift by global investors away from U.S. assets amid concerns over rising tariffs, potential stagflation, and political pressure on the Federal Reserve. About two-thirds of the inflows went into Japanese bonds, viewed as relatively undervalued and stable amid a still-weak yen. The move highlights Japan’s rising appeal as a safe haven in a volatile global environment.
#Japan, #GlobalMarkets, #CapitalFlows, #SafeHaven, #USMarkets, #Investing, #Tariffs, #InterestRates, #Bonds, #Equities, #EconomicOutlook, #MonetaryPolicy, #MarketShift, #ForeignInvestment, #StagflationConcerns