The yen remained hunkered just below the psychologically important barrier of 145 per U.S. dollar on Monday, while the dollar was on the back foot after U.S. economic data last week showed slightly easing inflation and consumer spending. The yen weakened 0.03 per cent to 144.38 per dollar in early Asian hours to kick start the second half of the year having dropped 9 per cent against the dollar in the first six months of the year. Against the euro, the yen was hovering at 157.495, below the 15-year low of 158 it touched last week. It was at 183.47 per sterling, just below the seven-and-a-half-year low of 183.86 it ... (full story)