The yen jumped from the upper 149 range to the upper 145 zone against the U.S. dollar early Monday in Tokyo, apparently lifted by another yen-buying intervention conducted by Japan for the second time since late last week in New York.
At 9 a.m., the dollar fetched 147.64-67 yen compared with 147.74-84 yen in New York and 150.47-49 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.
The euro was quoted at $0.9860-9862 and 145.57-63 yen against $0.9858-9868 and 145.44-54 yen in New York and $0.9787-9789 and 147.27-31 yen in Tokyo late Friday afternoon.
In New York on Friday, the Japanese authorities stepped into the currency market when the yen was trading just below the 152 line versus the dollar, resulting in the yen rebounding to the lower 146 level.
Tokyo stocks opened higher, tracking sharp gains in U.S. shares Friday on speculation that the Federal Reserve may signal slowing down its interest rate hikes in December.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 345.62 points, or 1.29 percent, from Friday to 27,236.20. The broader Topix index was up 17.39 points, or 0.92 percent, at 1,899.37.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by marine transportation, machinery, and insurance issues.
