Yen Weakens to 6-Month Low on Risk-Linked Selling; Pound Rises

The yen fell to a six-month low versus the dollar after reports showed manufacturing in China, Europe and the U.K. expanded last month, driving demand for risk and underscoring Japan’s currency’s role in the carry trade.

Japan’s currency weakened against most of its 16 major counterparts as Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the Bank of Japan will keep monetary policy accommodative until inflation is stable at 2 percent. The pound reached the strongest level since January against the euro after a gauge of U.K. manufacturing increased in November at a faster pace than analysts forecast. New Zealand’s dollar rallied, while Canada’s currency traded at the weakest level since October 2011.