Dollar Tops 160 Yen for 1st Time in 20 Months

Jiji Press

10:32 JST, March 28, 2026

New York, March 27 (Jiji Press) — The dollar climbed to top ¥160 for the first time in about 20 months in New York foreign exchange trading Friday.

The U.S. currency rose to around ¥160.20 temporarily, attracting safe-haven buying amid growing concerns that tensions in the Middle East will continue for an extended period of time, traders said.

At noon, the dollar stood at ¥160.10-20 , up from ¥159.74-84 at 5 p.m.. Thursday.

Crude oil futures prices rose back in off-hours trading due to a prevailing view that negotiations between the U.S.-Israeli side and Iran on a ceasefire agreement may face a rough going.

Dollar buying grew as investors increasingly believe that the Middle East crisis will drag on, market sources said.

The euro was at $1.1520-1530 at noon, against $1.1524-1534 at 5 p.m. Thursday, and at ¥184.50-60 , up from ¥184.07-17 .