A flurry to the topside in EUR/USD, EUR/JPY and AUD/JPY after comments from the Japanese FinMin followed by a very strong Japanese LEI index help breath a few moments of life into moribund Asian markets. EUR/USD ran into sellers in the mid-1.2950 and eased back to opening levels just above 1.2930 before stabilizing.

USD/JPY got little boost from the jawboning with the crosses fairing better. Widespread reports of Taiwanese vessels joining the dispute over the islands being argued over by China and Japan kept a lid on risk appetites.