The Japanese yen strengthened past 155 per dollar on Friday, positioning itself for solid weekly gains as investors expect the Bank of Japan to continue raising interest rates despite Tokyo’s cooler-than-expected inflation data. The capital’s annual inflation rate eased to a more than one-year low of 2% in December, reflecting softer food and energy price pressures. Tokyo’s inflation data are widely regarded as a leading indicator of nationwide price trends and are therefore closely monitored by policymakers and markets. The BOJ recently raised its policy rate to 0.75%, the highest since 1995, with Governor Ueda hinting at more hikes if inflation persists. Despite this, the yen remains near January lows, prompting warnings of possible market intervention. Meanwhile, the cabinet approved a draft fiscal 2026 budget with record general-account spending of around JPY 122 trillion. It marks the first budget under the Takaichi administration, set for submission to the Diet in January.