(eToro Blog) In early Asian trading, investors' negative sentiment for Japanese banks simultaneously pushed the Nikkei to a 2-week low and the Japanese Yen broadly higher. Analysts attribute the Nikkei's 1.3% decline to a sell-off in banking sector stocks which occurred on speculation that a loan-waiver for debt incurred by the Tokyo Electric Power company might be demanded of them.

That speculation arose from recent comments made by the Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary who pointed out that taxpayers would not be willing to foot compensatory payments for nuclear plant damages unless banks there agreed to waive debt incurred prior to the earthquake. One strategist points out that the government plan lacks clarity, so details will need to be hammered out further. Even so, the comments triggered a sell-off in shares from the utilities sector as well, as the government is likely to request that they help to fund the compensation account.

Other analysts also point out that the Nikkei's larger comparative decline may be a factor of the Bank of Korea's surprising decision not to increase their benchmark interest rate. Besides the Nikkei, other bourses across Asia, with the exception of the Australian S&P/ASX which gained 0.1%, all also slipped.

The Japanese Yen was broadly higher with the Nikkei's decline, which encouraged investors to buy back the safe-haven currency. And the recent sharp drop in commodity prices are also factoring into the Yen's strength, but according to eToro's Senior Research Analyst Leo Alkalay, "once commodities return and start to climb again, bearish sentiment and a higher Yen will be squeezed out."

For now, though, bearish sentiment prevails with the Nikkei down nearly .70% on the day, on track to lose 2.1% for the week. Investors continue to buy the Yen heavily; on the eToro trading floor sentiment among investors of USD/JPY, recently lower at 80.5650, favors selling by a ratio of 9 sellers to 2 buyers. With similar volatility in EUR/JPY, recently at 115.17, eToro traders favor selling by a ratio of 10 sellers to 1 buyer.