The Japanese yen strengthened toward 155.5 per dollar on Thursday, extending gains from the previous session as the dollar weakened sharply after the US Federal Reserve delivered its third rate cut of the year and signaled a less hawkish outlook than markets anticipated. Investors are also eyeing next week’s Bank of Japan policy meeting, where markets anticipate a rate hike after Governor Kazuo Ueda said the central bank is getting closer to attaining its inflation target. Attention will focus on Ueda’s post-meeting comments for guidance on 2026 policy. Despite recent gains, the yen remains pressured by Japan’s slow growth, fiscal challenges, and wide interest rate gaps with other major economies, as domestic rates remain among the lowest globally. On the data front, business sentiment among large manufacturers rose to a one-year high in the three months to December.