In the foreign exchange market, the yen appreciated toward mid-July as foreign investors kept on investing in Japanese stocks, but it fell back as the dollar was purchased reflecting expectations for a recovery in the U.S. economy. The yen is currently traded in the range of 119-121 yen to the U.S. dollar.
With regard to corporate finance, private banks remain cautious in extending loans to firms with high credit risks, while they continue to be more active in extending loans to blue-chip companies. Their lending attitudes seem to be becoming slightly more accommodative in areas such as terms and conditions for lending.