The Japanese yen has risen to its highest valuein relation to the United States dollar in one and one half years.The yen is increasing in value on foreign exchange markets;yet Japanese finance officials have supported policies aimed at limiting its rise.The appreciating value of the yencould hurt Japan's efforts to increase inflation in the country.Some experts think rising prices could strengthen economic growthin the world's third largest economy.Japan's money has traded at about 111 yen to one U.S. dollar in recent days.The yen has also risen in value against other major currencies, including the euro.The yen's value has increased almost nine percent on foreign exchange markets this year.That is the biggest increase among the Group of 10 industrial countries during that period.The group includes Belgium, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States are also members.The Group of 10 has agreed to cooperate on economic and monetary issueswith the International Monetary Fund.Japanese officials have said they may be willing to take additional measuresto fight the rising value of the yen.Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Sugasaid the government is closely watching changes in foreign exchange values.The governor of Japan's central bank, Haruhiko Kuroda,has repeatedly said that the Bank of Japan may cut interest rates it controls.Demand for widely traded currencies like the yenoften increases when stock prices drop.That can cause the value of such currencies to rise on international markets.However, the Bloomberg News service reports that the currencies ofcommodity-exporting countries like Australiaand South Africa have dropped in value.Such countries sell a large amount of agricultural productsand unprocessed minerals to overseas buyers.The Bank of Japan is seeking to raise inflation to a target rate of two percent a year.The bank has increased the amount of money available to private Japanese banks.The Bank of Japan also has set a negative interest ratefor the money commercial banks hold with it.Both moves are meant to encourage banks to lend more to businesses and individuals.However, Japan's rate of inflation remains near zero percent.That can be a sign of limited demand for goods and services.The Swiss franc has also increased in value against the U.S. dollar.That increases the cost of the country's exportsand may hurt Switzerland's economic competitiveness.The president of Switzerland's central banksaid his bank's policy of negative interest rateshas been "indispensable" for limiting the rising value of the franc.