TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - The yen was higher against the dollar in thin midafternoon trade, as investors adjusted their short-yen positions, dealers said. However, they said overall trading was directionless ahead of the release of December non-farm payroll data in the US today. Aozora Bank forex trading section deputy manager Kazuhiro Nishina said that during the afternoon session, the yen was supported by position adjustments, as well as the rise on the equity market. "Trading on the forex market is very thin. Under such circumstances, it is possible that the yen will reach the 130.00 yen level against the dollar," he said. However, Nishina added that the current weak yen trend will continue for the time being. "If you consider the recent fall of the yen against the dollar, today's minor position adjustment will not change the current trend," he said. "In addition, if there is some negative domestic news, such as bankruptcies, it is possible that the yen will reach 132.00 against the dollar," he said, adding that he expects the yen to move in the range of 130.00-133.00 for the next week. Nishina said that authorities in Japan and the US appear to have accepted the current weakness of the yen against the dollar. "There have been no comments from the US authorities criticising the falling yen. I think both authorities have somewhat accepted the yen weakness," he said. He added that he does not expect the yen to benefit even if non-farm payroll data comes in weaker than the market forecasts. "If the data is weaker than expectations, it will be the euro which will benefit most," he added. He said that he expects the euro/dollar to move in a range of 0.8900-0.9100 for the next week.