The yen held near multi-year highs against the dollar and euro early on Friday, having surged after the Bank of Japan refrained from adding fresh stimulus, while sterling recovered ground as the killing of a pro-European Union lawmaker was expected to boost sentiment for the "Remain" camp in Britain's EU referendum.

Because of its safe-haven status, the yen has benefited from uncertainty over the outcome of next Thursday's referendum in Britain on whether to remain in the EU or leave, with both the U.K. and EU economies seen suffering if Britain quits.

"Продолжающееся бездействие со стороны Банка Японии перед лицом этих рисков только усиливает подозрения на рынке, что центральный банк работает из вариантов политики, подавая обратно в более сильной иены", сказал экономист HSBC Izumi Devalier в примечании.

Министр финансов Японии Таро Асо заявил в пятницу, что он был глубоко обеспокоен "односторонними, быстрых и спекулятивных движений" видели на валютном рынке и будет реагировать, если это необходимо для обеспечения стабильности в валютах.

The euro hovered just above 117.32 yen, after skidding to a three-year trough of 115.51.

Campaigning in Britain was suspended after the parliamentarian, a vocal advocate for staying in the EU, was shot dead in the street.

"Market participants appear to have interpreted the killing as a blow to support for the leave camp," analysts at Commonwealth Bank wrote in a note to clients.

Sterling bounced back above $1.4200, turning around from a slide to a two-month low of $1.4013.

"$1.4 is an important level in a historical perspective. It is very rare for the pound to stay below that level. It may not be easily broken," said a trader at U.S. bank in Tokyo.

Preparing for a market storm, many of the world's biggest banks plan to draft senior traders to work through the night following the referendum, and policymakers in several countries are on guard against volatility.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session, the pair was trading in the $ 1.1230-75

GBP / USD: during the Asian session, the pair is trading in the range of $ 1.4195-1.4290

USD / JPY: during the Asian session, the pair was trading in range Y104.10-85