1.   Also boosting the dollar were signs of rising tension on the Korean peninsula that prompted traders to sell yen to buy the U.S. currency, traders said.

2.   And Japanese need to sell yen for dollars to buy U.S. bonds.

3.   A portion of mark-yen trades are done through the dollar, meaning traders sell yen for dollars and then sell those dollars for marks.

4.   But Japan did join with the United States Friday in intervening in the currency market, buying dollars and selling yen.

5.   Concern about the strained relations between China and Taiwan also prompted traders to sell yen for marks.

6.   Concern about the strained relations between China and Taiwan also prompted investors to sell yen for marks.

7.   Expectations they will have to sell yen to obtain the foreign currency they need to buy foreign assets has spurred traders to sell the yen.

8.   For this reason, Japan tried to slow the rise of the yen by intervening in the currency market to sell yen six times in June and July.

9.   He sold yen for dollars and marks.

10.   In buying pounds for yen, traders often sell yen for dollars first, then convert dollars into pounds.