Japanese steelmakers' labour unions are pushing for a base pay increase of 30,000 yen ($201) a month to ensure workers' wage growth outpaces inflation, unionists said on Friday, as annual talks with management move into full swing.
Oil prices were little changed on Friday, staying on track for weekly gains, with tensions persisting in the Middle East after Israel rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas.
The yen slipped to a 10-week low on Friday, while the dollar ground towards a fourth weekly advance as traders dialled back bets on how quickly the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates and how soon the Federal Reserve will cut them.
Oil prices rose slightly on Thursday as the rejection of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal pointed to continued unrest in the Middle East, although weak economic signals from China put a lid on gains.
The U.S. dollar was trading in a tight range on Thursday as traders digested less dovish remarks from policymakers overnight and looked ahead to fresh economic data from the United States.
Most Asian markets tracked Wall Street higher on Thursday, but Chinese stocks were battling to sustain a rally after data raised concerns about deflationary pressures in China and suggested the economic slowdown may have further to run.