Yen remains under downward pressure in afternoon after comments earlier by Japanese Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa cheered yen bears. -- Shiokawa said there was mood for a weaker yen. -- But apparently stiff dollar offers aimed at protecting options at 124.50 yen prevented greenback from extending gains. -- Dollar at 124.32/37 yen against Monday's late U.S. level of 124.05. -- Dollar expected to test 125 yen in near term if U.S. consumer data, due later in the day, brighten sentiment further. -- U.S. Conference Board's consumer confidence index for November, due at 1500 GMT, forecast to rise to 87.9 from October's 85.5, according to poll of economists. -- Yen bearish across board, slumping near 110 per euro , with market increasingly focusing on Japan's weak fundamentals.
-- Lingering wariness that Japan's banking problems could hit financial system also depressed sentiment for yen. -- Euro at 109.63/73 yen against Monday's 109.19. -- Single currency little changed at $0.8818/23 against $0.8803.