US took initiative in January yen 'rate checks,' Nikkei reports

TOKYO, Feb 24 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities took the initiative in conducting the January "rate checks" to prop up the yen and were ready to conduct joint intervention if Japan requested to do so, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed U.S. government sources.

The rate checks by the New York Federal Reserve, which acted on behalf of the U.S. Treasury Department, were made without request by Japan's Ministry of Finance, the paper said.