The Finimize Daily Brief
Investors Bailed Out Of Japanese Government Bonds, And UK Unemployment Stayed High
21 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hey, I'm Lana with your daily brief for Wednesday, January 21st. Coming up, investors bailed out of Japanese government bonds, sending their yields up to record levels. And UK unemployment stayed high, with layoffs outpacing vacancies. We'll also check in with Carl to get his answers to your burning questions. More on the way, but first, a word from Guy at Finimize HQ.
Investors balked at Japan's potential new policies, leaving the country's bond market both shaken and stirred on Tuesday.
On Monday, Japan's new prime minister called for a snap election to be held in a few weeks, putting her position on the line to try and secure support for plans to cut taxes and spend more on the country. That sounds like good news, at first.
Chapter 2: Why did investors bail out of Japanese government bonds?
Thing is, the government is already up to its eyeballs in debt, and it'll need to sell more bonds to raise funding for those plans. Investors had been nervous about Japan's ever-growing debt for a while, and on Tuesday they bailed out of government bonds in their droves.
That rush for the exit has sent yields on 30- and 40-year bonds sharply higher, with the latter rising above 4% for the first time ever. That's reflective of the extra reward investors want for taking on what they see as more risk. Long-term investors need to estimate corporate profit as best they can, and that's a lot easier to do in calm conditions.
After all, when economies and politics are steady, there are fewer wildcards to knock trends off course. But when policies and outlooks change by the day, markets lurch around and company results become much harder to call. Unfortunately, we are firmly in that second bucket right now. The Japanese bond sell-off rippled through global markets, with long-term U.S.
bond yields reaching their highest level since September. In this kind of jittery backdrop, it's no surprise that investors have been gravitating toward classic safe havens. Precious metals have lived up to their name, with gold up around 10% this year and silver roughly 32%, both breaking even more records after a stellar 2025.
Before we dive into the next story, it's time for our daily check-in with Carl. You've got questions, he's got your answers. Carl, what have you got for us?
We have a question from Ana in Madrid, and she wants to know, why do commodities like oil or gold rise when stocks fall? So this all comes down to the fact that commodities respond to supply shocks and inflation fears. Gold often benefits from risk aversion and currency concerns. Oil can rise due to geopolitical or production constraints. They move on different rules than equities.
That's why diversification matters.
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Chapter 3: What impact does Japan's debt have on its bond market?
Thanks, Carl. Next up. The UK's unemployment rate held steady at 5.1% for the three months to November, staying at its highest level since 2021. And it'll take more than a spoonful of sugar to make that go down. British employers seem nervous, even though the economy has thus far managed to avoid a downturn. Rather than simply slowing or freezing recruitment, they're actively cutting roles.
In fact, separate payroll figures all show that around 220,000 jobs have disappeared over a little more than a year, and new job listings aren't keeping pace with rising layoffs. Retail and hospitality jobs were the most vulnerable over the timeframe, as companies in the sector were pressured by weak demand and higher costs.
And for those still in work, overall wages only rose by 4.5%, down a touch from the period before. Narrow it down to the private sector, and they grew at their slowest pace in five years. That headline unemployment figure isn't just down to job cuts. It's been pushed up by more job seekers entering the labor market after taking time out of work.
And while that might be rough in a job search, it can be good for the economy overall. See, when there are more applicants for each role, firms can get away with keeping salaries lower. That helps to slow wage growth, and that could help tamp down inflation without any more central bank intervention, which might mean just lower interest rates for you.
Brits brought retail spending down to its lowest level in seven months in December, buying the essentials but cutting back on big-ticket items like electronics and furniture. No surprise, that kind of caution usually shows up when households feel unsure about their job security and future income. That's it for today. I'm Lana. I'll see you tomorrow.
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