The USD/JPY pair has sharply declined to near the 146.50 mark on Thursday. The swift selling pressure arises as the Japanese yen outperforms its peers, particularly due to comments from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who suggested that the Bank of Japan is likely to consider interest rate hikes soon. This speculation creates a shift in trader sentiment, warranting close attention to upcoming data that may influence this dynamic. Market participants should brace for continued volatility as these developments unfold.