The Japanese yen weakened toward 158 per dollar, ending a three-day advance, as Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama renewed warnings that Japan could take market-stabilization measures against excessive volatility or speculative trading. Speaking on November 2, she said Tokyo would continue coordinating with Washington under existing bilateral agreements and would focus on market conditions rather than target a specific exchange rate. Investors were also assessing how the U.S. midterm election could affect the dollar, Treasury yields, tariffs, foreign policy, oil prices and Asian technology markets, while awaiting Japanese wage data for clues about the Bank of Japan’s policy path. The BOJ held its benchmark rate at 1.25% last week and indicated underlying inflation had reached its 2% target, potentially leaving room for a December rate hike.