BOON FOR JAPAN INC.: A steady fall in the value of the yen is proving a godsend for Japan's exporters, such as Toyota. The cheaper yen — it slipped below 100 to the U.S. dollar this month — is making their products more affordable overseas.
ASIAN EFFECT: Japan's frequent trading partners, particularly its Asian neighbors, could lose a competitive edge because their goods now cost more relative to Japan's.
CURRENCY WAR: The yen's decline also raises the risk that other nations will manipulate their currencies' values to support their own economies.
