The yen hovered near the key 160-per-dollar threshold on Thursday, trading around 159.36 per USD. Sources said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government supports rate hikes and that the next Bank of Japan policy move could come in September or October; the BOJ and government are reportedly aligned on near-term tightening amid concerns a weak yen is lifting prices and to reinforce recent US-Japan currency interventions. Investors said the disclosures had little market impact, as markets have lar

The yen hovered near the key 160-per-dollar threshold on Thursday, trading around 159.36 per USD. Sources said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government supports rate hikes and that the next Bank of Japan policy move could come in September or October; the BOJ and government are reportedly aligned on near-term tightening amid concerns a weak yen is lifting prices and to reinforce recent US-Japan currency interventions. Investors said the disclosures had little market impact, as markets have largely priced in BOJ hikes. A wide US-Japan rate gap and Japan's heavy public debt continue to weigh on the currency.