<div id="readability-page-1"><div>[TOKYO] The Japanese yen softened against the greenback on Friday (Dec 26) as investors remained on watch for potential intervention to shore up the currency, while the US dollar gained slightly against the euro in thin trading volumes.The yen has remained on the back foot despite a Bank of Japan interest rate hike last week, on concerns about expansive fiscal policy in the country. Japan’s government on Friday proposed record spending for next fiscal year while curbing debt issuance, underscoring Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s challenge in boosting the economy while inflation remains above the central bank’s target. Data on Friday also showed that core consumer inflation in Japan’s capital slowed in December on moderating cost pressure for food but stayed above the central bank’s 2 per cent target, firming the case for further interest rate hikes. Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda said on Thursday the nation’s underlying inflation is accelerating gradually and steadily approaching the central bank’s 2 per cent target, reiterating the central bank’s readiness to continue raising interest rates.The yen has come off its recent lows, however, as Japanese officials warn about potential intervention. Japan has a free hand in dealing with excessive moves in the yen, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Tuesday, issuing the strongest warning to date on Tokyo’s readiness to intervene in the currency market to arrest sharp declines in the currency.Against the yen, the dollar was last up 0.48 per cent on the day at 156.54. It reached 157.77 last Friday. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, rose 0.01 per cent to 98.04, with the euro down 0.04 per cent at US$1.1772. Sterling fell 0.22 per cent to US$1.3493.The greenback has weakened this year as investors price in further Federal Reserve rate cuts while other central banks are expected to hold rates steady.Fed officials are balancing a weakening labor market against concerns about inflation that continues to run above the central bank’s 2 per cent annual target. Fed funds futures traders are pricing in between two and three 25 basis point cuts next year, with the first possible in March.In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin fell 0.58 per cent to US$87,340. REUTERS</div></div>

GBTC

日本 yen 在對美元的匯率中走弱，因市場擔憂可能會進行干預以支持該貨幣。儘管日本銀行最近加息，但寬鬆的財政政策和高於目標水平的通脹對經濟穩定構成挑戰。日本政府提出了創紀錄的支出計劃，同時限制債務發行。美元對日元和歐元小幅上漲，而日元仍然承壓。比特幣也出現了輕微下跌。預計美聯儲明年將降息，以平衡疲軟的勞動力市場與通脹擔憂

由於交易員對干預風險保持警惕，日元在清淡的交易中走弱