The super-easy policy of the Bank of Japan has eaten into the yen’s status as a traditional haven for at least the last two years, but the currency reaction to the nation’s New Year earthquake suggests an even deeper issue for the once-favored safe asset. In past years the yen tended to strengthen following news of wars or catastrophes, as was the case following the quake and tsunami in 2011, because of speculation that Japanese investors would sell overseas assets and repatriate funds. The currency jumped almost 9% against the dollar over seven days following that deadly event yet has slid about 3% since a ... (full story)