Japan won39;t rule out any options to combat excessive moves
Suzuki stops short of threatening 39;decisive action39;
Markets on alert of intervention as yen slides near 34year low

TOKYO, April 2 Reuters Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said authorities were ready to take appropriate action against excessive exchangerate volatility, repeating his warning to yen bears as Tokyo tries to prevent a destabilising fall in the currency.

Suzuki stopped short of threatening to take decisive action against excessive moves, language the minister used last week when the yen slumped to a 34year low, suggesting officials are keeping their powder dry as they watch how currency moves play out.

All we can say is that we will take appropriate action against excessive volatility, without ruling out any options, Suzuki told a regular news conference on Tuesday, when asked about the yen39;s continued falls.

The yen has been on a downtrend despite the Bank of Japan39;s decision last month to end eight years of negative interest rates, as traders interpreted its dovish language as signalling that the next rate hike will be some time away.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell39;s remarks on Friday that there was no need to be in a hurry to cut interest rates kept the dollar firm by cementing market expectations that the gap between U.S. and Japanese rates will stay wide.

Markets remain on alert for the chance of intervention by Tokyo as the dollar hovers around 151.610 yen…