In the London foreign exchange market on the 23rd, selling of the yen and buying of the dollar intensified against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East. The yen temporarily fell to the mid-163 range against the dollar, marking its lowest level in about 39 and a half years. As of 10 a.m. London time, the yen was trading at 163.29 to 163.39 per dollar, a decline of 0.23 yen from the previous day's 4 p.m. level, with the yen weakening against the dollar. At one point, yen selling accelerated, pushing the decline to the 163.40 range.