The Japanese yen hovered around 159.4 per dollar on Friday, staying close to its weakest levels since mid-2024 and keeping markets alert for potential government action. The currency's latest drop is being driven less by carry trades and more by robust demand for the dollar alongside mounting worries that soaring oil prices could strain Japan's energy-dependent economy. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama signaled that officials remain prepared to respond to excessive currency moves, while Kazuo Ueda cautioned that a softer yen may intensify imported inflation pressures. With the conflict involving Iran and the United States showing little progress toward easing, investors continue to favor the dollar, leaving the yen vulnerable to further weakness.
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