On the New York foreign exchange market on the 10th, the Japanese yen strengthened against the dollar, momentarily reaching a rate of 154 yen to the dollar. This movement was triggered by a report from the U.S. Department of Commerce stating that retail sales for December were flat compared to the previous month, falling short of market expectations of a 0.4% increase. The decrease in consumer spending raised concerns that led to an increased demand for the yen while the dollar was sold off.

Specifically, the retail sales data showed no growth in December, which sparked fears of economic slowdown in the consumer sector; this sentiment translated into a significant appreciation of the yen against the dollar, with the currency rising over 1.8 yen from the previous day, officially marking a return to the 154 yen range for the first time in about a week. The yen's strength highlights shifts in investor sentiment in response to macro-economic indicators, particularly in the U.S.

Simultaneously, in the New York stock market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its upward trend, closing at a record high for the third consecutive trading day, gaining 52.27 dollars (0.10%) from the previous day's close. Major companies such as Walt Disney and home improvement giant Home Depot saw increased demand for their stocks, suggesting a dichotomy between the stock market performance and consumer spending trends indicated by retail sales data.