Equities advanced while the yen slid to fresh lows as investors positioned for political change, even as Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda reaffirmed the path toward future rate hikes. Japanese equities gained amid renewed yen weakness and speculation surrounding a potential early election, as investors embraced what traders have dubbed the “Takaichi trade” — a combination of rising stocks and a softer currency. The yen fell beyond 159 per dollar, its weakest level since July