円急騰、１４３円台前半　日銀政策修正を意識―東京市場

　８日午前の東京外国為替市場の円相場は、１ドル＝１４３円台前半に急騰した。日銀が早期にマイナス金利を解除するとの観測が台頭したことで、日米金利差の縮小を意識した円買い・ドル売りが広がっている。午前１１時現在は１４３円３１～４１銭と前日比２円４０銭の円高・ドル安。
　前日、日銀の植田和男総裁が国会答弁で「年末から来年にかけて一段とチャレンジングな状況になる」と発言。市場で早期の政策転換を示唆した内容と受け止められ、円高が進行している。（2023/12/08-12:20）

The dollar slipped below 144 yen in Tokyo on Friday, after its brief plunge past 142 yen in overnight New York trading, on growing speculation that the Bank of Japan may lift its negative interest rate policy at an early date.
   At 1 p.m., the dollar stood at 143.77-78 yen, down from 145.71-72 yen at 5 p.m. Thursday.
   The yen spiked on BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda's comment at parliament Thursday that the period from year-end to next year will be "even more challenging." The remark was taken by financial market players as indicating the central bank's readiness for an early policy change.
   Meanwhile, speculation is growing for interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
   Reflecting the perceived monetary policy gap between the Japanese and U.S. central banks, the dollar met with heavy selling and tumbled below 142 yen, albeit temporarily, for the first time since early August in New York trading Thursday.