Overview

• The yen briefly weakened into the ¥151-per-dollar range in New York trading, its softest level in about six months.
• Earlier in Tokyo, the currency touched ¥150.70 and was quoted at ¥150.62–¥150.64 at 5 p.m. local time.
• Against the euro, the yen hovered near its weakest levels, with quotes around ¥175.87–¥175.91.
• Traders tied the move to expectations that policies under newly chosen LDP leader Sanae Takaichi could delay BOJ tightening, a view some described as a "Takaichi trade."
• Japan’s finance minister, Katsunobu Kato, warned against excessive currency moves, which briefly steadied the yen before selling resumed, and market participants expect choppy trading until leadership and coalition plans are clarified.