The U.S. dollar fell on Friday to its lowest level in nearly nine months against the Japanese yen after media reports once again fueled speculation the Federal Reserve could deliver a super-sized 50-basis-point interest rate cut at its policy meeting next week.

Japanese equities may become more volatile after the Tokyo Stock Exchange extends its trading hours in November, with the risk that investors might be scared off as it comes on the heels of last month’s market crash.

Tokyo's Nikkei led Asian markets higher Thursday as the yen hit a two-week high after the Federal Reserve announced a bumper interest rate cut and pledged a series of further