The Russian currency, the ruble, has lost nearly 40% of its value this year, further weakened by the drop in exports, combined with a jump in imports driven by strong domestic demand. Maxim Oreshkin, an economic adviser to Russian President Putin, blamed the central bank for the currency’s depreciation.—cnn.com

The yen's depreciation against the dollar reflects Japan’s widening interest rate gap with the United States. Japan intervened last year to stop the yen's fall but has since refrained from further action. Vice finance minister, Masato Kanda says stepping into the foreign exchange market again has not been ruled out.—kyodonews.net