Yen's rebound will hopefully push down import costs, Japan finance minister says
Adds Suzuki comments on stock sell-off
TOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) -Japan is closely monitoring foreign exchange movements with hopes that the recent rebound in the yen could push down costs of imports, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Friday.
"Foreign exchange movements have both positive and negative impacts (on the economy), but our biggest concern right now is their impact on import prices," Suzuki said ata regular press conference.
"We are hoping that import prices will cool down to certain levels if the yen's weakness is reversed. Also from this perspective, we're closely monitoring markets," he said.
After languishing at 38-year lows below 160 per dollar for much of July, the yen staged a sharp rally in the days leading up to and after the Bank of Japan's decision on Wednesday to raise interest rates.
Suzuki also reiterated that it was important for currencies to move in a stable manner reflecting economic fundamentals and that Tokyo would act appropriately.
"Excessive foreign exchange movements could increase uncertainties for corporate activities, therefore affecting people's lives," he said.
He also said the authorities will closely monitor stock market moves, after Japan's benchmark Nikkei average .N225 plunged more than 5% on Friday.
But he declined to comment on the market plunge, saying that it was premature to predict an impact from stock movements of just one or two days.
The Tokyo stock plunge came after an unexpected slump in U.S. manufacturing fuelled fears of a downturn, while uncertainties over the Japanese central bank's tightening path also weighed on the market.
Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Raju Gopalakrishnan
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