TOKYO: The yen weakened in Asia Friday after the Bank of Japan held off fresh easing measures and struck a slightly more upbeat view of the world's number three economy.
In Tokyo, the greenback rose to 119.27 yen from 118.87 yen before the BoJ policy announcement and 118.81 yen in New York.
The euro strengthened to 146.47 yen from 146.00 yen, while it was at $1.2279 against $1.2287 in US trade.
Investors are now awaiting BoJ governor Haruhiko Kuroda's regular post-meeting news briefing later in the day, looking for any hints about policy moves in the new year.
"Exports have shown signs of picking up" while factory output has started to "bottom out" , the BoJ said in a post-meeting statement.
"Japan's economy is expected to continue its moderate recovery."
Plunging oil prices have helped narrow Japan's gaping trade deficit while a sharply weaker yen has been a plus for the country's exporters.
But lower energy import prices are also digging into the BoJ's efforts to reach a 2.0 percent inflation rate -- aimed at ending years of deflation and tepid growth -- which has boosted speculation about further easing in 2015.
Crude prices have plunged roughly 50 percent since June owing to plentiful supplies, a stronger dollar and weak demand as the global economy struggles, analysts say.
The dollar has also won support from Wednesday's US Federal Reserve announcement that it planned to keep interest rates low and said it would be "patient in beginning to normalise the stance of monetary easing".
The comments suggested a rate hike was unlikely before mid-2015.
The ruble held steady at 60.12 against the dollar after President Vladimir Putin vowed Russia would soon recover from the worst financial crisis of his rule and said his grip on power was firm -- despite new Western sanctions and plunging oil prices, a key export for the country.
The ruble has gone through wild fluctuations this week -- falling to a record low of 80 against the dollar at one point -- with the central bank raising interest rates to 17 percent and Russians snapping up imported goods ahead of expected price hikes.
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