Currency traders have significantly increased their bets on the Japanese yen weakening beyond the closely-watched level of 152 per dollar, with expectations for a slide toward 155. This comes as the yen has indeed breached the 152 level against the dollar, a movement that has not been seen since June 1990, marking a 34-year low for the currency. The depreciation to 153 against the dollar, driven by U.S. inflation concerns, has heightened speculation around potential intervention by Japanese authorities to support the yen. This situation reflects broader market reactions to economic indicators, such as the rise in Treasury yields following March CPI readings, and underscores the global impact of inflation numbers.