The Japanese yen hovered around 147 per dollar on Tuesday, holding recent gains after minutes from the Bank of Japan’s June meeting indicated policymakers remain open to further rate hikes if trade tensions subside. Still, the board maintained that current rates are appropriate amid persistent uncertainty. A Ministry of Finance official also emphasized the need for the BOJ to respond flexibly, particularly in managing its bond purchases to maintain market stability. Last week, the BOJ left rates unchanged but raised its inflation forecast, while cautioning about mounting risks from global trade tensions. Meanwhile, the yen had gained over 2% in the past two sessions as the dollar weakened following a softer US jobs report, which fueled bets on upcoming Federal Reserve rate cuts.