Japan's currency official, Atsushi Mimura, expressed concern over the yen's decline, which recently fell into the 150 range against the dollar. He indicated that sudden movements in the currency market are being monitored closely due to the potential for speculative trading.
In the U.S., the dollar remained near an 11-week high against major currencies, supported by strong economic data. Retail sales rose by 0.4% in September, and initial jobless claims decreased by 19,000 to 241,000. These figures suggest a more stable economic outlook, influencing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate adjustments.
Asian stock markets showed mixed results, with Japan's Nikkei index rising by 0.4% amid a weaker yen, while Australian and South Korean markets experienced declines. Investors are awaiting significant Chinese economic data that may indicate a slowdown, posing risks to China's growth targets.
In the commodities market, gold prices remained steady near record highs, reflecting ongoing market dynamics. Crude oil prices saw a slight increase, driven by a drop in U.S. oil inventories, although concerns about demand have led to expectations of a significant weekly loss.
Flight Centre Travel Group in Australia reported a slight increase in first-quarter profit, but its shares fell sharply, hitting a 10-month low. Analysts noted that the company's performance is not meeting growth expectations, although there are early signs of improvement as the travel sector enters a busier season.