By Harry Robertson and Ankur Banerjee

LONDON/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The greenback fell barely in opposition to the yen on Tuesday as markets remained on excessive alert for indicators of Japanese intervention, however the broader market was placid with U.S. merchants off for a public vacation.

The buck was down 0.18% at 1104 GMT to 144.44 yen, after rising 0.27% on Monday.

Nonetheless, the yen remained near final week’s nearly eight-month low of 145.07 per greenback, which prompted Japan’s Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki to warn in opposition to extreme yen promoting.

Market exercise was comparatively subdued with U.S. markets closed for the July 4 public vacation. Buyers have been additionally ready for Friday’s U.S. non-farm payrolls employment report which might affect the Federal Reserve’s subsequent determination.

The euro was down 0.15% in opposition to the greenback at $1.089, whereas sterling was up 0.18% at $1.271.

The , which tracks the buck in opposition to six main friends, was little modified at 102.99.

“It seems like each week will carry one thing and this week we’re ready for the U.S. non-farm payrolls,” mentioned Alvin Tan, head of Asia FX technique at RBC Capital Markets.

The Reserve Financial institution of Australia (RBA) held rates of interest regular at 4.10% on Tuesday, saying it needed extra time to evaluate the affect of previous hikes, however warned additional tightening is perhaps wanted to carry inflation to heel.

The Australian greenback bounced round, however was up 0.21% to $0.669 at 1104 GMT.

Markets had leant in direction of the central financial institution holding charges regular after inflation eased a bit of greater than anticipated in Could, but merchants who wager on the longer term path of rates of interest count on at the very least yet another price hike this cycle, in response to pricing in derivatives markets.

Throughout foreign money markets, buyers remained on look ahead to potential intervention by Japanese authorities to stem yen losses.

Earlier on Tuesday, Japan’s high monetary diplomat Masato Kanda mentioned that officers have been in shut contact with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and different abroad authorities nearly on a regular basis on currencies and broader monetary markets.

“That is sending alerts {that a} coordinated intervention could also be coming as yen continues to hover above 144 per greenback,” mentioned Charu Chanana, market strategist at Saxo Markets.

Japan purchased yen in September, its first foray into the market to spice up its foreign money since 1998, because the Financial institution of Japan’s pledge to retain ultra-loose coverage so long as required drove the yen as little as 145 per greenback. It intervened once more in October after the yen plunged to a 32-year low of 151.94.

“The Financial institution of Japan continues to be unwilling but to maneuver away from the YCC coverage, that is going to lead to the next greenback,” he mentioned, referring to Japan’s yield curve management that retains bond market charges low.

Tan mentioned the greenback is more likely to rise previous 150 yen, which might make intervention “extra possible than not”.