91.   The weakness raised fears among currency traders that Japanese investors would be forced to sell dollars and buy yen to cover their losses.

92.   The U.S. currency weakened as Japanese banks bought yen, selling dollars on profit-taking.

93.   They were apparently buying yen to invest in Japanese stocks and bonds, traders said.

94.   Traders said investors bought yen on speculation that the Japanese government may come up with bolder steps to stimulate the economy.

95.   Traders said that while the market would continue to heed the comments from Finance Ministry official Eisuke Sakakibara, there remains no fundamental reason to buy the yen.

96.   Traders said the dollar came under selling as investors bought yen on expectations of an upcoming economic stimulus package.

97.   Usually, investors buy yen when Japanese share prices rise, so they can buy into the rising market.

98.   Until the earthquake hit, international investors were buying yen in a search for quality triggered by the Mexican peso crisis.

99.   With few prospects for an early economic recovery in Japan, market participants said there was little reason to buy yen.

100.   After buying the yen strongly the last few months, they have started shifting to the US market, particularly treasury bonds, he said.