By Rae Wee SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The dollar took a breather on Thursday after a strong run this week that has put it on track for its best performance in nearly a year, helped by a weak yen that has struggled amid a change of guard in Japan's ruling party. Markets this week have grappled with political risk in Japan and France alongside a lengthening U.S. government shutdown, all of which have done little to stoke confidence in investors, who have sought safety in assets such as gold. The yen has been whiplashed after hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi was picked as head of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, putting her on course to become the country's first female prime minister and fuelling bets of a revival in big spending and loose monetary policy. The Japanese currency was last a tou

See Full Page