TOKYO: The dollar fell below 140 yen for the first time in about one month in Tokyo trading Wednesday morning. 

The dollar’s decline came amid speculation that the Bank of Japan will tweak its massive monetary easing policy at a meeting on July 27-28, market sources said.

The yen’s rise sent the country’s benchmark 225-issue Nikkei stock average dropping below 32,000 for the first time in about one month.

The Nikkei average was down 299.94 points, or 0.93 pct, at 31,903.63 at 10:04 a.m. The dollar was at 139.73-74 yen at 10 a.m., down from 140.53-53 yen at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

JIJI Press