The Finance Ministry has asked Japanesecommercial banks to moderate their dollar sales, bank dealers
said.
    They said the Ministry had telephoned city and long-term
banks earlier this week to make the request.
    One dealer said this was the first time the Ministry had
made such a request to commercial banks.
    Finance Ministry officials were unavailable for immediate
comment. Dealers said the Ministry has already asked
institutional investors to reduce their sales of the dollar.
   REUTER
