11.   A shrinking surplus often helps boost the dollar because it means Japanese exporters have fewer yen to sell for dollars.

12.   A smaller surplus helps the U.S. currency because it leaves fewer dollars in the hands of Japanese exporters to sell for yen when repatriating profits.

13.   A smaller surplus should help defuse tensions with the U.S., which has called on Japan not to boost exports to stimulate its economy.

14.   A shrinking surplus often helps boost the dollar because it means fewer dollars in the hands of Japanese exporters to sell for yen when they bring profits home.

15.   A smaller-than-expected surplus helps the U.S. currency because it leaves fewer dollars in the hands of Japanese exporters to sell for yen when repatriating profits.

16.   A smaller Japanese trade surplus often helps boost the U.S. currency by leaving fewer dollars in the hands of Japanese exporters to sell for yen to bring profits home.

17.   Raising dollars to remedy this is mostly a state function, but unexpected federal surpluses also help.

18.   Ramos said the fiscal surplus has helped bring down domestic interest rates, making it cheaper for companies to borrow money for expansion.

19.   The shrinking Japanese surplus has helped the U.S. currency by putting fewer dollars in the hands of Japanese exporters, who convert them into yen when repatriating revenue.

20.   The shrinking Japanese trade surplus has helped the dollar rise for months, though, Yamashita added.