Demand for the dollar will likely remain strong through December, particularly with the bonus season bolstering Japanese retail buying.

Japanese investors have just started kicking in offshore investment at the beginning of the new fiscal year. They will do so more and more from now on, weighing down the yen.

These reports will support the euro by holding it above $1.19 against the dollar for the time being.

Asian economies are export driven, so their authorities will continue to worry about stronger currencies. There's a growing concern about intervention.

The transfer of the shares in the whaling firm will not affect our policies at all.

But I want to make it quite clear that Japan will not cancel its research, whatever dangerous activities or interference may occur.