Yen hits 39-year low of 162 per dollar: 5 things to know

Markets weigh Takaichi's stance against pressure from weakening currency

An electronic screen displays the current Japanese yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar outside a brokerage in Tokyo on June 30. (Photo by Shintaro Ino) 

TOKYO -- The Japanese yen slipped into the 162-per-dollar range in Tokyo trading on Tuesday for the first time in 39 years, weakening to as low as 162.36 against the greenback and extending a slide that has accelerated in the past few months.