NEW YORK (Reuters) -The dollar climbed to a near four-week high against a basket of currencies on Friday, after data showed U.S. consumer prices accelerated in May, strengthening expectations the Federal Reserve may have to continue with interest rate hikes through September to combat inflation.

The Japanese yen jumped on Friday after the government and the central bank in a rare joint statement expressed concern about the yen's recent slide to hit two-decade lows.

RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil's government on Thursday night moved forward with its bid to privatize Eletrobras, Latin America's largest utility, as the share offering through which its stake in the company is set to be diluted was priced.

Japan's government and central bank said on Friday they were concerned by recent sharp falls in the yen in a rare joint statement, the strongest warning to date that Tokyo could intervene to support the currency which has sunk to 20-year lows.

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The dollar rose to a near four-week high against a basket of currencies on Friday, after data showed U.S. consumer prices accelerated in May, suggesting the Federal Reserve may have to continue with interest rate hikes through September to combat inflation.

ULSAN, South Korea (Reuters) -Defiant South Korean truckers embarked on broader and more aggressive strike action on Friday, threatening to severely curtail deliveries of raw materials for semiconductors and petrochemical products.