USD/JPY slipped below 158.00, down 0.30% intraday.

Japanese investors net-bought ¥18.8 tln of government bonds in the six months to Sept. 30 (about $119 bln), the largest inflow since 2009, the Japan Securities Dealers Association said Tuesday. Trust banks — commonly acting for pension funds — accounted for nearly half of the purchases and banks about one-third; some analysts say the buying reflects pension funds rebalancing to restore target allocations.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said two tankers struck mines, caught fire and were forced to stop in the Strait of Hormuz, and that it shot down the US military's 54th MQ-9 drone. The IRGC said its naval and aerospace forces are monitoring the area and will continue to exert pressure by controlling and managing the Strait of Hormuz.