Yen falls to 18-month low, sparking speculation Japan may intervene to support it

The Japanese yen has weakened significantly, hitting its lowest level against the U.S. dollar in 18 months. This has led to widespread speculation that Japanese authorities might step into the currency market to try to prop up the yen's value, with reports of 'rate checks' fueling the rumors.

At the same time, the price of gold has surged to record highs, breaking above 5,000 dollars per ounce. The price of silver has also hit a record.