Japan's July 30 yen intervention hit record ¥7.98 trillion
Finance Ministry figures show yen purchases on three days, including July 31, when the United States also intervened to support the currency.
Lecornu brings forward French minimum-wage rise and plans tax relief
The increase will add €24 to monthly net pay from December 1, while planned tax measures cover overtime, transport contributions and employee bonuses.
France’s minimum wage will rise by 1.6% on December 1, a month ahead of the scheduled January 1, 2027 increase, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced. The change adds €24 to net monthly earnings, taking them to around €1,502.
Following talks at Matignon with employer and employee representatives, Lecornu said a decree would follow shortly. He also outlined a project to overhaul general reductions in social security contributions, intended to lift workers’ take-home earnings.
Alongside the wage measure, the government plans income-tax relief covering overtime earnings up to €10,000. Its proposals also include exempting employer payments toward public transportation costs and making value-sharing bonuses tax-free, as businesses raise concerns about higher labor costs.
Companies can use value-sharing bonuses to make one-off payments to employees, distributing some of the value generated by the business. Pay talks are set to carry on in roughly 100 professional sectors, with arrangements discussed separately in each.
Unions responded cautiously, having sought larger increases. The CFDT had demanded an additional €100 in monthly net pay, and the CGT had requested around €150. Sophie Binet, the CGT’s general secretary, is calling for a further day of demonstrations and strikes on November 17.