As fears of an American recession unfold, stockmarkets around the globe have suffered. However none has taken as extreme a beating as Japan’s. On August fifth the Topix plunged by 12% in its worst efficiency since 1987, in contrast with falls of 2-3% in America, Britain and Europe. The index is now virtually 1 / 4 beneath its peak, reached barely a month in the past. The yen, in the meantime, is snapping again: it’s up 13% from lower than a month in the past, when it was at its weakest in 37 years. These sharp strikes carry implications not only for Japanese traders and companies. The nation’s monetary heft implies that they may turn into a supply of additional volatility in nervous world markets.
