61.   The falling yen is a sore spot for Japanese trade partners in Asia and North America, because it makes Japanese goods relatively inexpensive and more competitive overseas.

62.   The falling yen also creates dangers closer to home.

63.   Traders said the falling yen prompted some foreign investors to sell Japanese shares.

64.   Tokyo stocks soared Wednesday as investors were cheered by a decline in interest rates and a falling yen.

65.   Traders interpreted comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin overnight in Washington as meaning that a coordinated effort by central banks to boost the falling yen was unlikely.

66.   He noted rising concern from southeast Asian leaders, who fear the falling yen will harm their own competitiveness.

67.   A falling yen also boosted sentiment, with automakers among those benefiting, but the upside was capped by weak bank stocks on bad debt concerns.

68.   Mahathir had Thursday expressed concerns about the falling yen to then visiting Japanese Premier Junichiro Koizumi.

69.   Mahathir last week expressed concerns about the falling yen to visiting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who denied his government was intentionally driving the yen down.

70.   The falling yen, under pressure from expectations of monetary easing by the Bank of Japan, pushed regional currencies lower over the past week.