Japan PM Abe instructs finance ministry to take foreign exchange steps as needed

[TOKYO] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he has instructed Finance Minister Taro Aso to watch currency markets "ever more closely" and take steps if necessary, in the wake of Britain's historic vote to leave the European Union.

"Risks and uncertainty remain in financial markets," Abe said at an emergency meeting between the government and the Bank of Japan. "We need to continue to work toward market stability," he said, signalling Tokyo's readiness to conduct yen-selling intervention in the market if it deems yen rises as excessive.

Mr Abe summoned Mr Aso and Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Hiroshi Nakaso to discuss how to deal with the market turbulence caused by Brexit.

The yen briefly soared above the key threshold of 100 to the dollar on Friday as investors hoarded the safe-haven currency after the Brexit vote, adding to headaches for Japanese policymakers worried about the effect a strong yen could have on exports.

"I was instructed by the prime minister to take various, aggressive responses to ensure stability in financial and currency markets," Aso told reporters after the meeting.

Mr Nakaso said the BOJ remained in close contact with other central banks to ensure global financial markets had ample liquidity.

The deputy governor, who was speaking to reporters after the meeting, declined to comment on whether the BOJ would hold an emergency rate review to expand monetary stimulus.

REUTERS