Japan’s 10-year government bond yield dropped below 2.9% on Thursday, reaching its lowest level in six weeks as a global selloff in technology and artificial intelligence stocks boosted demand for safe-haven domestic bonds. Concerns over Japan’s fiscal outlook also eased after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi repeatedly assured markets that the government would avoid increasing the debt burden despite plans to cut taxes on food. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at next week’s policy meeting before potentially raising them in December amid persistent inflationary pressures. On Wednesday, BOJ Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino said underlying inflation was approaching the central bank’s 2% target and cautioned against delaying policy adjustments, echoing hawkish remarks made by Governor Kazuo Ueda earlier this week.