1.   A shrinking surplus hurts the yen because it means less of the currency must be purchased to finance the excess.

2.   A shrinking current account surplus hurts the yen because it means Japanese exporters have fewer dollars to sell for yen when repatriating revenue.

3.   Also, tumbling currencies and stock markets elsewhere in Asia could hurt the yen in the days ahead, analysts said.

4.   Fresh signs of frailty in Japanese financial institutions also hurt the yen versus the dollar.

5.   Fresh signs of weakness in Japanese financial institutions also hurt the yen versus the dollar.

6.   Low rates hurt the yen by making deposits and bonds denominated in it less attractive.

7.   Lower Japanese rates typically hurt the yen by making yen-denominated deposits less attractive.

8.   Lowering the interest rate hurts the yen by making Japanese bank deposits less attractive.

9.   Low Japanese interest rates hurt the yen by dimming the allure of yen deposits.

10.   Lower Japanese rates typically hurt the yen by making bank deposits denominated in it less attractive.