The dollar eased against the yen on Friday after a report suggested that Japan would be the next country with which US President Donald Trump will take up trade issues. The US currency held in relatively tight ranges against other major peers such as the euro and pound, with the market bracing for the highly anticipated US jobs report due later in the session.
According to CNBC television, President Trump hinted to a Wall Street Journal columnist that he might next take up trade issues with Japan. The US president has already challenged China, Mexico, Canada and the European Union on trade issues. He has repeatedly accused other countries of devaluing their currencies and putting the United States at a disadvantage. The dollar extended overnight losses and last traded at 110.57 yen for a loss of 0.17 percent.
"In addition to dollar/yen, other currencies have also declined against the yen. Although the real motive behind Trump's comments is still unclear at this stage, the market has taken note of the possibility of Japan being affected by a broader trade conflict," said Shusuke Yamada, currency and equity strategist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Tokyo.
Trump has previously expressed displeasure towards the large US trade deficit with Japan. But so far Washington has not asked Tokyo to take specific steps to address the trade imbalance.
"Ongoing NAFTA negotiations with Canada might not provide Trump with much support ahead of the midterm elections, there's little progress in trade talks with China and car tariff discussions with the European Union have a long way to go," said Daisuke Karakama, chief market economist at Mizuho Bank.
"Under such circumstances it would not be surprising if Trump has decided to turn his focus on Japan."
Global trade concerns continued to take a toll on broader risk sentiment, further supporting the yen, which is seen as a safe haven.
The euro was down 0.2 percent at 128.39 yen and the pound had shed 0.2 percent to 142.88 yen.
The Australian dollar lost 0.6 percent to 79.20 yen, slipping to a new 21-month trough.
Against the greenback, the Aussie was down 0.5 percent at $0.7163, edging back towards a two-year low of $0.7145 plumbed on Wednesday.
The currency, considered a barometer of broader risk sentiment, has taken heavy hits from recent tumult in emerging markets. An uncertain economic outlook for China, Australia's key trading partner, has also weighed on the Aussie.