The USDJPY has experienced a depreciation of over 9% against the yen in the current year. Last Friday, the Japanese currency hit a low of 145.07 per dollar in early Asia trade, the lowest it had been in over seven months. However, it stabilized at 144.30 later on Friday following statements from Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki. Suzuki emphasized that Japan would take appropriate measures if the yen weakened excessively, cautioning against investors selling the currency too aggressively. This level, 145 to the dollar, has historically made speculators wary of potential intervention by Japanese authorities, as demonstrated last September when authorities intervened in the markets to support the currency for the first time in 24 years.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve (Fed) has been closely monitoring various economic aspects such as the labor market and energy-induced inflation as it prepares for its meeting on July 26 to decide on interest rates. The Fed's decision-making process is influenced by two crucial data points in the U.S.: the first quarter GDP and the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index. These indicators will help determine whether the central bank will proceed with rate hikes in the coming weeks or maintain the current pause in monetary tightening, which was decided on June 14.
According to the Commerce Department, the U.S. GDP grew at an annualized rate of 2% in the first quarter of this year, providing some relief to the Fed and indicating that previous rate hikes did not significantly impede economic growth. However, inflation remains a concern, with a slowdown in the overall trend but still at relatively high levels.
Next Friday, the US will release the June official employment report. The market consensus is for an increase of 200K in payrolls.
Considering these factors, market expectations lean towards the Fed raising lending rates by another quarter percentage point on July 26, reaching a peak of 5.25%.
USDJPY Technical Analysis (Price Action):
This video provides an extensive analysis of the current market structure. The focus is on the key level of 145.000, which played a crucial role in the Bank of Japan's intervention last September. With price action returning to this zone, it becomes a point of concern, acting as either key support or resistance depending on how market participants react in the upcoming week. The video explores potential trading opportunities in this area using trendlines and key levels, highlighting the significance of the 144.200 level as a recent support line, particularly observed on Friday. The market's response to the range between 144.200 and 145.000 at the beginning of the new week will greatly influence the direction of price action in the upcoming week.
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