BUZZ-Japanese ETFs diverge on currency move

** Strength of Japanese yen means popular currency-hedged ETFs (Shenzhen: 395013.SZ - news) take more of a beating than their un-hedged peers

** U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) .-listed WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity ETF YTD total return is down 9.25 pct using fund's NAV, not market price, according to Morningstar Inc (NasdaqGS: MORN - news)

** Un-hedged iShares MSCI Japan ETF is down a milder 8.31 pct year through Jan 19; 2015 was first year EWJ outperformed DXJ since 2011 (Morningstar)

** Hedged fund tries to eliminate effect of yen for U.S. dollar investors and is popular for traders who expect Japan-based exporters value to grow when yen weakens

** Trend continued Wednesday as the dollar fell to a more than one-year low against the Japanese yen on Wednesday as crude oil prices dropped near 13-year lows and risk appetite waned

** This session, hedged DXJ price off 4.2 pct; un-hedged EWJ off 4 pct

** Some investors predicting further climb for yen based on expectations Bank of Japan will not employ additional stimulus measures or accelerate its quantitative easing program