The dollar extended its selloff amid speculation the U.S. could coordinate with Japanese authorities to support the yen. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signaled readiness for action, putting traders on alert for intervention. Meanwhile, gold broke above $5,000 an ounce, driven by persistent global uncertainty.

Natural gas prices surged on both sides of the Atlantic. A severe cold wave sweeping across the U.S. has spiked heating demand and disrupted supplies. This weather event compounds existing supply tightness, adding upward pressure on energy costs for consumers and businesses heading into the peak winter season.

Markets now watch for concrete moves from Tokyo and Washington on currency policy. The yen’s weakness has been a key concern for Japanese exporters and the Bank of Japan’s normalization path. In commodities, the focus remains on weather forecasts and inventory data to gauge if the natural gas rally has further to run.