Japanese yen weakens to 5-month low as BOJ signals dovish stance

TOKYO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese currency weakened sharply to a five-month low against the U.S. dollar in Tokyo trading on Thursday as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) signaled a dovish policy stance after leaving interest rates unchanged.

At 5 p.m. local time, the greenback fetched 156.46-49 yen compared with 154.77-87 yen in New York and 153.57-59 yen in Tokyo at the same time Wednesday.

Earlier in the da