Yen weakens to nine-month low

The Japanese yen depreciated past 154.5 per dollar on Wednesday, hitting nine-month lows as risk-on sentiment linked to hopes for a US government reopening reduced demand for the safe-haven currency.

Earlier this week, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signaled plans to set a new multi-year fiscal target to allow more flexible spending, reinforcing expectations of fiscal expansion under the new administration.

She also urged the Bank of Japan to move cautiously on interest rate hikes, despite signs that many policymakers favor resuming monetary tightening sooner.

The BOJ’s October Summary of Opinions showed officials monitoring domestic wage trends ahead of the next rate move.

Meanwhile, Japan’s economic revitalization minister, Minoru Kiuchi, warned that a weaker yen could raise consumer prices through higher import costs, calling for close oversight.