Speculators increase bearish positions on the yen to the highest level in about nine years, suggesting renewed interest in yen carry trades. Data cited by the outlets shows leveraged funds raise short exposure to more than 115,000 contracts in the week through June 9, the largest since November 2017. The buildup reflects expectations that borrowing in yen and investing in higher-yield currencies may resume, even as concerns remain about potential risks. Bloomberg notes that the yen outlook is being weighed against the possibility of Japanese intervention to curb excessive yen moves and a potential rate hike by the Bank of Japan, which it said was expected on Tuesday. Japan Times and Bloomberg both link the increase in short bets to the revival of the carry trade, with the reporting emphasizing the scale of the change in market positioning. Neither source indicates that intervention occurs, but both highlight that investors are acting amid uncertainty tied to possible policy actions and official responses. The yen shorts are therefore framed as a sign of shifting positioning rather than a confirmed change in exchange-rate direction.