• USD/JPY finds new equilibrium on 161, higher plane without intervention

• Asia 161.28-52 EBS, follows push up to 161.81 Thursday

• Offers still thick pre-162 option barriers, some Japan exporter offers

• Threat of intervention seen high too, more FinMin Katayama jaw-boning

• Katayama vowed readiness to act on yen at any time early

• Option expiries today supportive, to help contain spot action

• Below at 161.00 $1.2 bln, 161.25-50 $745 mln, 161.75-162.00 $966 mln

• Another $2.9 bln up at 163.00 strike, $3 bln below at 160.00 strike

• Stasis on 161 could last into US re-open later today

• Japanese importers continue with buys, foreign Japan stock buy hedging too

• Market also eyeing more BOJ DepGov Himino Diet testimony today

• US-Iran tensions won't go away soon, fresh sabre-rattling over weekend

• Related comments , , also ,

• On BOJ , , on US-Iran ,
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Nikkei 225:

(Haruya Ida is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)