Mumbai, Feb. 16 -- The yen eased toward 153 per dollar, trimming last week's gains after Japan's Q4 GDP rose just 0.1% QoQ, well below expectations and underscoring weak domestic demand. Consumer spending increased only marginally as elevated inflation continued to weigh on households. Despite the pullback, the yen remains supported by optimism around Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's fiscal expansion plans, expectations of further rate hikes by the Bank of Japan, and lingering currency intervention risks. A softer dollar, after benign US inflation reinforced rate-cut bets for the Federal Reserve, helped cap losses.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Capital Market....