The yen slid to record troughs versus the euro and 2-1/2 week lows against the dollar on Monday, as last week's soft Japanese data dampened expectations that the Bank of Japan could raise interest rates this month. The dollar steadied against other major currencies, giving back some of last week's gains made after solid U.S. jobs data helped to ease concerns that the Federal Reserve may need to cut interest rates early next year. In Japan, expectations for a Dec. 19 rate hike had been boosted by hawkish comments from BOJ policymakers last week. But such views took a knock from softer-than expected economic data. "We are in the camp that does not expect the BOJ to raise rates next week. We think it's premature," said Teis Knuthsen, head of FX and Fixed Income Research at Danske Markets in Copenhagen. "If we are right in this view, we would be looking for the yen to continue to weaken, particularly against the euro. We have a short term target of 155 yen," he added. According to overnight index swaps, money market players cut the chance of a BOJ rate increase next week to about 50 percent from 70 percent after soft machinery orders data and a downward revision to third-quarter growth. By 1232 GMT the euro was a touch down on the day at $1.3183 , maintaining Friday's one cent worth of losses. The yen was down half a percent at 117.12 per dollar , around 2-1/2 week lows. Against the euro it hit a record low for the third time this month, at 154.49 yen according to Reuters data, before trimming losses to 154.34 . Investors are eyeing the BOJ's quarterly tankan survey of business sentiment on Friday, crucial to determining whether the central bank would raise interest rates this month.