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USD/JPY - yen gains ground as core inflation slowsThe Japanese yen has extended its gains on Friday. In the North American session, USD/JPY is trading at 145.29, down 0.38%. The month of August has been kind to the US dollar, which has posted strong gains against all of the major currencies. USD/JPY has risen 2.34% in that period and on Thursday, the yen fell as low as 146.56, a nine-month low against the US dollar. The yen has been the worst performer among the majors over the past month, and the currency's sharp depreciation has raised speculation that Tokyo could respond by intervening in the currency markets. Japan's Ministry of Finance (MOF) shocked the markets in September 2022 when it intervened and bought billions of dollars with yen, which propped up the Japanese currency. At that time, the yen was also trading around the 146 level, and that has many investors on edge that the MOF may be planning another intervention. Japan's inflation has been hovering above 3% for a prolonged period, higher than the Bank of Japan's target of 2%. The BoJ has insisted that it will not loosen its ultra-accommodative monetary policy until it sees evidence that inflation is sustainable, such as higher wage growth. The markets are not taking the BoJ at its word, as the BoJ keeps its cards very close to the chest in order to surprise the market when it shifts policy. Clearly, transparency is not high on the BoJ's list, in contrast to the Federal Reserve and other major central banks. Since inflation data could well lead to a shift in policy, every inflation report out of Japan attracts significant attention. The July CPI report, released today, was no exception. Core CPI, which excludes fresh food, eased to 3.1% y/y, matching the consensus estimate and down from 3.3% in June. The indicator is closely watched by the BoJ and the decline supports expectations that the BoJ will maintain its current policy. This, despite the fact that Core CPI has now exceeded the BoJ's 2% inflation target for 16 consecutive months. The BoJ is not expected to make any major shifts to policy in the near-term, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the central bank will stay completely on the sidelines. At the July meeting, the BoJ surprised the markets with a tweak to its policy which provided more flexibility to the 10-year bond yield cap. Governor Ueda insisted that this was not a move towards normalization, but investors have learned the hard way that the BoJ is not hesitant to make policy moves that have blindsided the markets. . USD/JPY Technical USD/JPY is testing support at 145.71. Below, there is support at 144.07 There is resistance at 1.4640 and 147.31
by OANDA
1
Will the BoJ intervene...The USDJPY trades with choppy price action between the 145 and 146 price range. With increasing comments about the weakness of the Yen and the possible invention from the BoJ, the longer the USDJPY stays at this price level, the higher chance we are likely to see an intervention. However, we cannot rule out a continuation of the upside, especially if the DXY recovers in strength. I would avoid further trades to the upside, and wait for possible counter trend reversal. But speculative counter-trends setups have a higher likelihood of failing (the trend is your friend)
Short
by JinDao_Tai
2
USD/JPY rises as BoJ takes note of inflationThe Japanese yen has started the week in negative territory. In the European session, USD/JPY is trading at 142.36, up 0.42%. Inflation continues to be a key issue for the Bank of Japan, although it is much lower than in other major economies, at around 3%. Still, inflation is above the Bank's 2% target and this continues to raise speculation that the BoJ will have to tighten policy sooner or later. The BoJ has pushed back against talk that it will tighten, and when the central bank recently made its yield curve control (YCC) more flexible, Governor Ueda was careful to stress that the step did not represent a move towards normalization. Against this backdrop, the BoJ released its Summary of Opinions earlier today. The members reiterated the necessity to keep an ultra-easy monetary policy in place, but some members noted that inflation and wages could continue to increase. One opinion went as far as to state that 2% inflation "in a sustainable and stable manner seems to have clearly come in sight" and urged the BoJ to make YCC more flexible. This BoJ internal conversation could be a signal that policy makers are slowly acknowledging that inflation, which has been above the 2% target for months, may be sustainable. That would mark a sea change in the BoJ's thinking and could have major ramifications on the exchange rate. The US employment report for July was a mix. Nonfarm payrolls were soft at 187,000, despite a banner ADP release which fuelled expectations of a breakout nonfarm payrolls release. Job growth is slowing, but the unemployment rate ticked lower to 3.5% down from 3.6%, and wage growth stayed steady at 4.4%. After the Fed's July rate hike, what's next? The money markets are expecting the Fed to take a pause at the September meeting, with a probability of 84%, according to the FedWatch. It's entirely possible that the Fed is done with tightening, but that will depend to a large extent on the data, particularly inflation and employment reports. USD/JPY is testing resistance at 142.12. Above, there is resistance at 143.55 141.47 and 140.36 are providing support
by OANDA
GBPJPY: Breakout, Retest, Down...In my recent ideas I’ve noted JPY strength resuming and this is evident in the performance last week, and we can see this when looking at the JPYWCU chart which is like DXY for the Yen. We can see what could be a higher low forming and a fourth retest of the resistance around 0.005350 which could break. We’ve seen out-performance of the Yen against many crosses in the past week, which has generated good pips, it’s too early to suggest a strong recovery (especially as BoJ clearly want a weaker currency to support exports), however they have an economy that when recessions start to hit, I believe they’ll fair better. All crosses against yens are at their high points, this doesn’t mean they can’t go higher, but money flows and I believe the shift is starting. I’m expecting GBP weakness over the coming weeks due to high inflation and massive threat of recession, and definitely this week against the Yen, so looking for shorts around 181.4. First target will be 167 area.
Short
by Finchcliffe
AUDJPY: Bearish on AUD, Bullish on JPYI believe we're going to start seeing a shift in sentiment for the JPY, there were indications last week, we broke a rising trendline, we've retraced and retesting now. Fundamentally the Japanese economy looks stronger, despite the loose monetary policy. We saw in June 2022 that BoJ can chuck curve balls in too, I'm not necessarily expecting that but if it happens I want to be on the right side. I'm bearish on AUD with high inflation and a dovish central bank, there is big news this week, we may see another pause, if that happens then we'll be down to around 90.0 I think before a retracement. I'm looking to get in anywhere from now up to 95.5, and a sell down to just above last week's low (92.0) ahead of the news this week, which could send this one further down, but best to be cautious!
Short
by Finchcliffe
CADJPY: Resuming the uptrendI'm looking to buy again, I don't think we've seen the top, we're still miles off an ATH. With JPY still weak, Oil strong (which gives CAD strength), and a bullish engulfing candle on the 4hr (and a pinbar almost complete) I think we've had a 50% retracement of the last impulse and now back up. It would be great for this 4hr candle to close above the previous with a green candle, but generally signs look like we have upward momentum to me. I'm going to be careful around the previous high (109) and will likely TP to assess the situation, if we fail to break then I think we'll be heading down fast (I'm expecting JPY strength sometime soon)
Long
by Finchcliffe
3
Japanese yen sinks as inflation risesThe US dollar continues to rally as the Japanese yen is down for a fourth straight day. In Friday's European session, USD/JPY is trading at 141.93, up 1.33%. The yen has taken investors on a roller-coaster ride. The Japanese currency surged 2.37% last week against the greenback but has reversed directions and dropped 2.15% this week. Japan’s core inflation (excluding fresh food) ticked higher to 3.3% y/y in June, up from 3.2% in May and matching the consensus estimate. Core core inflation (excluding fresh food & energy) dipped lower to 4.2% y/y, down from 4.3% in May and matching the consensus. The readings indicated that the inflation picture barely changed in June, but that's not really good news for the Bank of Japan. The core CPI has now stayed above the BoJ's 2% target for the 15th straight month. BoJ Governor Ueda has continued the Bank's ultra-loose policy despite high inflation, insisting that inflationary pressures are temporary. This stance, however, is becoming increasingly untenable as inflation has been persistently high and is not showing any signs of falling. Friday's inflation numbers come just a week before the BoJ's meeting, and there is speculation that the central bank could phase out its yield curve control (YCC) policy that has been distorting bond pricing. A change to YCC would almost certainly send the yen sharply higher, which was the case late last year when the BoJ stunned the markets and widened the target band for 10-year government bonds. Earlier this week, Governor Ueda poured cold water on any change in policy, but this could be an effort to scare off speculators looking for a tweak to YCC. It seems more likely than not that the BoJ will maintain policy settings at next week's meeting, but a shift is certainly on the table, especially with the yen floundering near the 142 line. USD/JPY has pushed past resistance at 1.4067 and 141.28. There is weak resistance at 142.12, followed by 142.62 There is support at 139.68 and 138.52
by OANDA
USD/JPY: The case for a bearish reversal buildsUSD/JPY has delivered a decent trend for bulls so far this year, having risen 14% since the January low. Yet we have been fully aware that net-short exposure to yen futures has approached a historical extreme as USD/JPT prices rose towards 145. Incidentally, 145 was the upper range of the liquidity gap we mentioned in a previous article which has now been filled, and USD/JPY has printed a bearish engulfing week at the 145 handle. With risks of yen intervention very real and traders positioned so strongly to the short side of yen futures, we suspect USD/JPY is at or very near an important inflection point. What could make the difference between a natural pullback against the YTD trend or a sharp reversal could be incoming economic data from the US and Japan. A softer-than-expected CPI report for the US could likely help push USD/JPY lower, but the real bearish catalyst could be if the BOJ finally get serious about abandoning their YCC (yield curve control). Over the near-term, a move to the 140 and 138 handles seem achievable over the coming weeks as part of a much-deserved retracement against a one-sided trend so far this year.
Short
by CityIndex
CADJPY: Retracement Expected FirstI'm expecting a retracement from this pair soon. it's massively over-bought, that said I think it will push up to just past 110 to meet resistance before it does. I've got my alerts set at 110. Being over-bought is not a determining factor, we can see that recent previous high levels were more overbought than they are now, before retracement. I can also see that the loose monetary policy of BoJ continues to negatively affect the value of the Yen, and this doesn't look set to change, so I'll be waiting and watching - if we break resistance then we could be heading all the way up to 116 - 118 (last seen in 2007), but I do think we'll retrace first, down to 106.5 so could be around 350pips. I'll be using LTF's and wait for confirmation before executing any trade.
Short
by Finchcliffe
1
BOJ News ReleaseExpecting USDJPY to drop due to this evening's BOJ news release and press conference. Based on the nature of the news and market indicators, there is a strong chance that the developments favor the Yen over USD. If price goes over 141.500 there is a chance for a buy. Sell Entry: 140.000 Targets: 139.680 | 139.360 | 139.000 | 138.700 | 138.245 | 137.815 | 137.440 | 137.045 | 136.585 | 136.300 Support: 136.100 Resistance/Stop Loss: 141.500 Be sure to follow, like, and let me know what you think in the comments below.
Short
by DollarYenQueen
1
USD/JPY - Yen slides to 7-month low after Fed, BOJ meeting nextThe Japanese yen has taken a tumble on Thursday. In the European session, USD/JPY is trading at 141.24, up 0.81%. Earlier today, the yen fell as low as 141.50, its lowest level since November. The markets had widely expected the Federal Reserve to pause at the Wednesday meeting, especially after a favourable inflation release on Tuesday. Jerome Powell delivered a hawkish pause, as the rate statement signalled more rate hikes were on the way and the Fed revised upwards its growth and inflation projections for the fourth quarter. As well, the dot plot indicated two more small rate hikes this year. Powell said after the decision that the Fed had not made a decision about the July meeting, in keeping with his stance that each rate decision will be determined based on the data. The markets aren't buying that and have priced in a 71% probability of a July hike, according to CME FedWatch. Inflation is moving slower, but there's still a way to go before the 2% target is achieved and the markets expect Powell to keep his foot on the rate pedal after yesterday's brief time out. The markets will shift their attention to the Bank of Japan, which meets on Friday. The BoJ has been an outlier with regard to rate policy, adhering to an ultra-loose monetary policy. The Bank is expected to maintain key policy settings and may comment on the depreciation of the yen. The currency's sharp drop on Wednesday triggered verbal intervention from Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, who voiced the standard line that excessive moves in the exchange rate were not desirable. The government has warned in the past that it could intervene to prop up the yen and made good on its threats in December, stunning the markets. If the yen's slide continues, we can expect more warnings out of Tokyo. USD/JPY is testing resistance at 141.21.  Above, there is resistance at 141.97 There is support at 140.29 and 139.53
by OANDA
FED Rate Hike Speculation; BOJ Maintains Accommodative StanceMay Inflation Data Release to Heighten Expectations of Rate Hike Next Tuesday, the United States is set to unveil its May inflation figures, impacting the Federal Reserve's upcoming monetary policy decision. Market forecasts anticipate a year-on-year increase of 4.2% in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), while the core annual CPI is expected to rise to 5.6%, surpassing the previous 5.5%. These figures, if realized, are likely to intensify speculation of an imminent rate hike prior to the Fed's announcement on Wednesday. Should the outcome exceed expectations, substantial volatility across the foreign exchange market is expected. Concurrently, the Federal Reserve's decision will contribute to market noise, with a pause in rates expected but accompanied by a hawkish message signaling the possibility of further rate hikes in the near future. In the event that the Fed confirms its commitment to monetary tightening, fears could trigger a stock market collapse while bolstering the US dollar. Bank of Japan (BOJ) Maintains Accommodative Stance Amid Economic Uncertainties The Bank of Japan (BOJ) recently signaled that inflation has exceeded initial projections. However, this observation does not automatically trigger an interest rate increase. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda emphasized the need to maintain highly accommodative policies until sustainable wage growth accompanies rising prices. Consequently, the BOJ is anticipated to maintain its current target short-term interest rate of -0.1% and a 0% cap on the 10-year bond yield, consistent with its yield curve control (YCC) policy. Furthermore, the BOJ is expected to adopt a slightly pessimistic view on exports and production due to weakened demand from the United States and China. In April 2023, the BOJ highlighted stagnation in exports and production. Nonetheless, as the central bank of the world's third-largest economy, the BOJ remains optimistic that the country will experience a moderate recovery driven by increased post-pandemic consumption, offsetting the impact of weak exports. Inflation is projected to surpass the BOJ's initial expectations. Analysts warn of the risks posed by rising inflation and the potential economic slowdown in Japan due to a severe overseas recession. While the BOJ will not issue new inflation projections next week, it is likely to signal during Governor Ueda's briefing session that inflation is exceeding initial projections. Analysts anticipate that the BOJ will revise its inflation forecast upward during its next quarterly review, considering the persistent price increases by many companies. However, the BOJ's forecast of core consumer inflation for the current fiscal year, at 1.8%, remains below analysts' projection of 2.6%. USDJPY Technical Analysis: Bullish Consolidation Amidst Channel, Watch for MFI Indicator and Resistance Bounce The USDJPY pair is currently experiencing a period of consolidation within a bullish channel, indicating a potential continuation of the upward trend. However, traders should closely monitor the Money Flow Index (MFI) indicator for a reading of 80, as it could signal a possible shift in market sentiment. Until the MFI remains below 80, the price has the potential to sustain its bullish trajectory. Nevertheless, caution is advised as a pullback towards the bearish direction may occur if the price encounters resistance and subsequently bounces off that level. In such a scenario, a bearish phase could ensue, with the price targeting the support line of the bullish channel.
by DNP-FX
2
USD/JPY punches above 140, Tokyo issues warningUSD/JPY is showing little movement on Tuesday. In the European session, USD/JPY is trading at 140.17, down 0.19%. The Japanese yen continues to underperform and has plunged 2.8% in May. The yen fell as low as 140.93 on Monday, its lowest level since November 21st. The sharp depreciation is raising concerns in Tokyo and Masota Kanda, a top official at the Ministry of Finance (MOF) weighed in on Tuesday. Kanda said officials were not focussing on particular exchange rate levels but said they were monitoring the forex market and "would respond appropriately". Kanda's veiled warning should not be ignored, as he blindsided the markets back in December when the MoF intervened in the currency markets in order to prop up the yen. Japanese releases have been solid, reinforcing speculation that inflation isn't going anywhere and the Bank of Japan may have to tighten policy. Service and manufacturing PMIs showed slight expansion last week and retail sales and industrial production will be released on Wednesday. Retail sales are expected to remain strong at 7.0% y/y in April, following a prior reading of 7.1%. Industrial production is projected to improve to 1.5% m/m in April, up from 1.1% in March. President Biden and Republican Speaker McCarthy have reached an agreement in principle on the debt ceiling, after weeks of brinkmanship between Republicans and Democrats. The deal must be approved in both houses of Congress, which is expected to happen despite grumblings from some Republicans. The weeks of uncertainty prior to the deal weighed on risk appetite and the big winners have been US Treasury yields and the US dollar. USD/JPY has support at 139.61 and 138.50 There is resistance at 140.88 and 141.73
by OANDA
1
USD/JPY - Yen sinks to 6.5 month low, is 140 next?The yen woes continue, as the currency has plunged a massive 400 points over the past week. In Thursday's North American session, the yen is trading at 138.52, up 0.60% on the day. USD/JPY hasn't been at such high levels since November 2022. All eyes will be on Japan's Core CPI release early on Friday. This is a key inflation indicator and could move the dial of the yen. The markets are expecting Core CPI to rise to 3.4% in April, after two straight readings of 3.1%. Inflation remains a key issue for the Bank of Japan. The new Governor, Kazuo Ueda, has continued the Bank's ultra-accommodative policy but has also hinted at taking steps towards normalization, such as adjusting the yield curve control (YCC) policy if inflation remains sustainable above 2%.  This week's GDP release showed growth in the first quarter was higher than expected, and that could raise expectations that the Bank will shift policy, perhaps in baby steps, in the near future. As for interest rate policy, we're unlikely to see any tightening before 2024. Federal Reserve Chairman Powell will speak on a panel later today, and the markets will be all ears. Powell has remained hawkish, saying that high inflation could result in further rate hikes. Powell has dismissed outright any rate cuts, but the markets still believe that the Fed will trim rates before the end of the year. JP Morgan weighed in earlier this week, saying they agreed with the markets that the Fed would cut rates, as the economy was likely to tip into a recession. USD/JPY is testing resistance at 138.42. Above, the next resistance line is 139.58 There is support at 137.08 and 136.42
by OANDA
1
USD/JPY - Japan's GDP improves but yen slipsThe Japanese yen is on a four-day losing streak and is in negative territory on Wednesday. In the North American session, the yen is trading at 137.39, up 0.74% on the day. Japan's GDP in the first quarter was higher than expected. The economy grew by 1.6% y/y, after a 0.1% decline in Q4 2022 and easily beat the estimate of 0.7%. On a quarterly basis, GDP expanded by 0.4%, up from 0.0% in Q4 and above the estimate of 0.1%. One key driver behind the spurt in growth was personal consumption, as demand continues to rise now that the country has reopened. The services sector remains strong but manufacturing continues to struggle. On a sour note, exports fell 4.2% in Q4, as demand for semiconductors and automobiles declined. The uptick in growth means that sustainable inflation could stay above 2%, and that could prod the Bank of Japan to take steps toward normalization, such as adjusting its yield curve control (YCC) policy. The BoJ has said it would consider tightening policy if inflation is sustainable above 2%, but any shifts in policy are likely to be small, especially if the yen remains weak. The BoJ announced it would conduct a policy review which could take a year or more, and I would not expect the BoJ to raise rates before 2024. Federal Reserve members continued to remind listeners that more rate hikes are possible if inflation stays high. The Fed has also tried to dampen expectations of rate cuts in the second half of the year. The markets are listening somewhat, as the odds of a rate cut this year have fallen. JP Morgan came out in support of rate cuts on Tuesday, saying that "the market is right to be penciling in cuts", as inflation remains too high and the US was likely headed for a recession. USD/JPY is testing resistance at 137.08. Above, the next resistance line is 138.42 There is support at 136.26 and 135.08
by OANDA
Will US CPI shake up sleepy yen?USD/JPY continues to have a quiet week and is almost unchanged, trading at 135.20. The markets will be keeping a close eye on the Bank of Japan's Summary of Opinions, which will be released later today. The summaries rarely move the dial on the yen, but this summary could be different, as it covers the April meeting which was the first chaired by Governor Kazuo Ueda. The BoJ did not change its policy settings at the meeting, but there are growing expectations that Ueda will take steps to normalize policy, which would boost the yen. At the meeting, the BoJ removed guidance on rate levels which committed to maintain rates at "current or lower levels" and announced it would review its monetary policy. Ueda said on Tuesday that there were positive signs in inflation and inflation expectations, and said the BoJ would end its yield curve control (YCC) policy once it was clear that inflation would "sustainably and stably meet our 2% target". The yen did not react to these comments, but it appears that Ueda is slowly but surely making plans to shift policy and gradually wind up former Governor Kuroda's massive stimulus program, which has been the hallmark of BoJ policy for years. The US release the April inflation report later today, and indications are that CPI remains sticky, which isn't great news for the Fed. Headline inflation is expected to remain unchanged at 5.0%, while the core rate is projected to tick lower to 5.5%, down from 5.6% in March. The Fed has signalled that it will pause rates next month, and this has been priced in by the markets at 78%, although there is a 21% of a rate hike, according to the CME Group. A hotter-than-expected inflation report would likely raise the probability of a rate hike and provide a boost to the US dollar. USD/JPY tested resistance at 135.37 earlier in the day. Above, the next resistance line is 137.24 There is support at 134.50 and 132.97
by OANDA
USD/JPY sticks to BoJ-inspired strong gainsSTRATEGY LONG The Japanese yen depreciated past 134.5 per dollar, sliding back toward its weakest levels in seven weeks as the Bank of Japan maintained its ultra-easy monetary policy and made no adjustments to its yield curve control. However, the BOJ said it will remove forward guidance that pledges to keep interest rates at current or low levels. Latest data showed that core consumer prices in Japan’s capital, Tokyo, accelerated and exceeded forecasts in April, keeping the pressure on the central bank to adjust its current monetary settings. Externally, firm expectations that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again in May continued to weigh on the yen, though recession fears and renewed concerns about the banking sector in the US limited the currency’s decline. The USD/JPY pair builds on its strong intraday rally and climbs to its highest level since March 10, around the 136.40 region during the early North American session. Spot prices, however, retreat a few pips following the release of the US macro data and trade around the 136.00 mark, still up over 1.5% for the day. This, along with a sharp intraday decline in the US Treasury bond yields, keeps a lid on any further gains for the Greenback. Apart from this, the risk-off impulse - as depicted by a generally weaker tone around the equity markets - lends some support to the safe-haven JPY and acts as a headwind for the USD/JPY pair amid slightly overbought oscillators on hourly charts. Nevertheless, spot prices remain on track to register strong gains for the third successive week, also marking the fifth week of a positive move in the previous six. BULLISH FACTS When the dust settles, the Fed is set to continue raising rates US to have permanently higher rates than elsewhere Re-acceleration of inflation and its win over the Fed will continue to catch the market by surprise The Dollar is higher for longer, alongside the Fed’s narrative Stagflation to take USD even higher Hot CPI means the Fed pivot is well beyond the horizon Ugly inflation promises further flight to safety US at war means a stronger dollar Outlook for Fed monetary policy now more hawkish Powell projects pain, higher rates for longer set to keep the dollar bid There is no alternative to the US dollar No recession for America's labor market, more dollar gains eyed Fed Chair Powell prioritizes fighting inflation, and ready to see negative growth BEARISH FACTS US Dollar's position as the primary global reserve currency is being challenged America on verge of losing petrodollar privilege Other regions may need to continue their crusade for inflation, reducing spreads of debt securities yields Combination of lower Fed rate expectations and improved risk sentiment is quintessentially negative No more Fed hikes, potentially lethal to the US Dollar US economy to slip into recession, Fed eventually cut rates quicker than peer institutions Sticky inflation? What is sticky is the downtrend Fed will start cutting interest rates quicker than foreign central banks Backing the US disinflation process and lower US rates Shock growth shows worker supply is rising, inflation to fall, USD to retreat End to monetary tightening should bring the USD's gains to an end Incremental news outside of the US growing more positive Fed to end its tightening cycle and US economic trend to worsen
Long
by DaveBrascoFX
USD/JPY shrugs after Japanese wages, household spending falterUSD/JPY is almost unchanged today, trading at 135.18. Japan's households are again holding tightly to the purse strings, as household spending fell 1.9% y/y in March, following a 1.6% gain in February. The consensus estimate stood at 0.4%. Household spending has been in a slump, with only one gain in the past five readings. There was no relief from wage data, as real wages declined in March for a twelfth straight month, at -2.9%. Nominal pay growth rose 0.8% y/y in March, but this fell well short of the CPI rate of 3.8% used to calculate real wages. In March, large companies negotiated substantial wage hikes, but so far this has not translated into higher wage growth, which could prod new Governor Ueda to normalize policy. Investors are hoping for some insights into Ueda's plans, with the release of the BoJ Summary of  Opinions on Wednesday. The summary covers the BoJ's April meeting, the first to be chaired by Ueda. At the meeting, the BoJ removed guidance on rate levels and said it would conduct a review of its policies. The Federal Reserve has warned that the turmoil in the banking sector has led to tighter credit conditions which could slow down growth in the US economy. These concerns were highlighted in the Fed's bi-annual financial stability report. The Fed's quarterly Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey echoed these worries, with bank officials saying that they would tighten lending requirements and expressing concerns about a recession and deposit withdrawals. The financial stability report tried to put on a positive spin, stating, that "a large majority of banks" were able to handle the strain from higher rates and that US  banks were "well capitalised". Still, the Fed will have to keep in mind the danger of contagion and give thought to cutting rates later in the year in order to minimize the chances of a recession. USD/JPY is putting pressure on resistance at 135.37. Above, the next resistance line is 137.24 There is support at 134.50 and 132.97
by OANDA
Yen Step Back, Two Steps ForwardDespite sharp inflation, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) left YCC unchanged on March 10th. This was Haruhiko Kuroda’s last meeting as BOJ Governor. Japan is still struggling to stoke growth at risk of sustained stagflation. Hence, his decision to leave rates intact was no surprise. Kuroda left the YCC unchanged. Analysts expected him to scrap the YCC so that the new incoming governor, Kazuo Ueda could start afresh. Hopes of change are now expected at the next BOJ policy meeting on April 27th. Kuroda leaves behind a mixed legacy. His strong monetary stimulus lifted the Japanese economy out of deflation at the cost of hurting bank profits with ultra-low rates. Growth has remained tepid. Kuroda has been a source of stability. More than what was needed in the staid land of the rising sun. Now, the monetary policy landscape is expected to shift as Ueda takes charge. New BOJ leadership and an aggressive US Fed will create near term weakness in JPY followed by medium term strength. This case study analyses a two staged positioning in CME Japanese Yen Futures to harness yield from anticipated currency moves. Change of Guard at the BOJ Under the new governor, definitive shifts are afoot. Inflation in Japan is non-negative. Really? Yes. Not only non-negative but also at levels unseen in 43 years. Kuroda may not have radically transformed Japanese economy, but he managed to revive its equity market. The risk of uncertainty and volatility exists once he leaves the office. Markets are used to perennial Japanese low inflation, and to a consistent central bank leadership. Both are now going or gone. Another big shift is BOJ's more definitive independence. While separate from Government of Japan, BOJ was seen as being an integral part of Abenomics to snap out of deflation. The Kishida-Ueda relationship is different. Prime Minister Kishida has not outlined a particular direction on macroeconomic policy. Politically, the LDP is far from united, not least on fiscal and monetary policies. Kishida’s base of support within the party is fragile, and his approval ratings have been in a prolonged slump. As a BOJ governor, Ueda comes from an unconventional background. He is the first academic to assume leadership of BOJ. He has not managed a large organization. He is knowledgeable about monetary policy and is a protege of Stanley Fisher. What, then, can we expect from Ueda? He is not convinced that inflation is sticky. Ueda maintains that “…inflation is led by cost-push factors” and “it will still take time to achieve sustainable inflation.” It does hint that he isn't someone who will make any sudden major moves. That said, in a parliamentary hearing earlier this month, Ueda hinted that the current YCC was unlikely to survive. Engaging the market is essential he said before adding that “in some cases, adding a surprise factor is unavoidable.” There is growing evidence emerging from the annual “shunto” (a big wage negotiation between unions and employers) that workers are asking for the largest raise in base pay in 25 years. Some Japanese employers have already raised wages sharply higher with case in point being Fast Retailing (a Japanese listed firm and parent company of Uniqlo) which raised pay by 40% earlier this year. Until now, it has been possible to attribute Japan’s inflation to the rise in the cost of imports driven by weak yen. Big wage increases would change that. However, the latest data, published Tuesday, shows that wage growth is not rising as fast as expected. In cash terms, it reached the highest level in decades last year, but the January figure was far lower. Real wages adjusted for inflation have been falling the most since 2009. Balancing growth while keeping inflation under control is not a small feat. Next BOJ policy meeting is more than a month away. Meanwhile, the US Fed is becoming more hawkish in its fight against domestic inflation. Another rate hike by the US Fed will further weaken the fragile Yen. The US macro environment is making an already complicated situation even more difficult. The failure of Silicon Valley Bank along with closure of Signature Bank and Silvergate Bank is testing the Fed’s wit. US Inflation continues to remain hot and three times the Fed’s target. With the liquidity backstop in place, the Fed is likely to jack up its rate by another 25 basis points when it meets on March 22nd. CME’s FedWatch tool pegs the likelihood of that happening at 82% as of March 14th. Against that backdrop, Ueda could do one of the three once in office – (1) further widen the 10-year JGB interest rate band, (2) target shorter term yields & thereby reduce JGB holdings, and (3) abandon yield targeting altogether. Options Markets are Bullish JPY/USD Options on CME’s Japanese Yen futures have an overall Put/Call ratio of 0.56 across all expiries, indicating that investors are expecting the Yen to weaken. In sharp contrast though, options for the July contract show a deviation from the trend with a Put/Call ratio of 2.6x. This coincides with the release of the 2nd Outlook Report by the BOJ after Ueda takes over, indicating the market expectation on Yen’s reversal versus USD starting July. How much more JGB can BOJ keep buying to sustain YCC? Can this last? Last December, the BOJ tweaked its YCC policy, to allow the 10-year Japanese Government Bonds (JGB) yield to move 50 basis points (bps) on either side of its 0% target, wider than the previous 25 bps band. The move stunned markets as BOJ hinted at monetary tightening after having stuck to its ultra-loose policy stance for a long time. YCC tweak spilled over into January as BOJ was forced to purchase a record $182B of JGB to defend its higher yield cap from breaching the ceiling of 0.50%. The BOJ now holds more than 50% of JGB, making the situation ever more unsustainable. Adding to the JGB burden, BOJ also owns the majority of domestically listed exchange traded funds (ETFs). Besides massive JGB purchases, the BOJ remodeled in January a funds-supply operation into a tool to prevent yields from rising rapidly. Beyond the current short-term loans, the BOJ amended the rules to offer funds extending up to 10 years with variable rates. In January, BOJ provided loans of 3T Yen in the January offer before extending the terms of the loan to 10-year for subsequent loans. In February, BOJ tweaked the fund-supply policy terms, including the quadrupling of minimum lending fee from 0.25%-1%, to limit the short-selling of JGB’s, this indicates that the BOJ is having to use all tools at their disposal in order to defend JGB yields from rising above their defined cap. The BOJ defended yet another attack on the YCC again in February prompting a further $2.2B of JGB purchases to keep yields from breaching the ceiling. Economists anticipate that Ueda will fundamentally revisit YCC before BOJ lands in crisis. Ueda starts on April 9th. It is unlikely that he will make any radical moves instantly. Meanwhile, Fed Chair Powell is going all guns blazing to tame inflation down. Jobs data released last Friday showed the creation of 311,000 jobs smashing expectations of 225,000 jobs indicating a tight labor market. A strong labor market risks fueling a wage-inflation spiral, leaving the Fed with no choice but to jack up rates further. Two Stage Trade Setup to Gain from Near Term Weakness & Medium-Term Strength CME’s Japanese Yen Futures provides investors an exposure of 12.5 million Japanese Yen for every lot with the price quoted in USD per JPY increment. Every 0.0000005 change in JPY provides an increment of $6.25 in contract value. With the USD expected to strengthen in the near-term, JPY will weaken until the next policy meeting on April 27th. As such a short position using CME Japanese Yen futures expiring in June (6JM2023) would provide a reward-to-risk ratio of 0.6x. Stage 1 Entry: 0.0075390 Target Level: 0.0074550 Stop Level: 0.0076670 Profit at Target: $1,050 Loss at Stop: $1,725 Reward-to-Risk: 0.6x Stage 2 Thereafter, if Ueda starts to steer Japan’s monetary policy stance differently, JPY will start to strengthen in the medium term. Following from a short position in the near term, a subsequent long position in CME’s Japanese Yen futures will allow the investor to gain from the strengthening JPY. Entry: 0.0074550 Target Level: 0.0081445 Stop Level: 0.0072775 Profit at Target: $8,620 Loss at Stop: $2,220 Reward-to-Risk: 3.88x MARKET DATA CME Real-time Market Data helps identify trading set-ups and express market views better. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com DISCLAIMER Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services. This material has been published for general education and circulation only. It does not offer or solicit to buy or sell and does not address specific investment or risk management objectives, financial situation, or needs of any person. Advice should be sought from a financial advisor regarding the suitability of any investment or risk management product before investing or adopting any investment or hedging strategies. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. All examples used in this workshop are hypothetical and are used for explanation purposes only. Contents in this material is not investment advice and/or may or may not be the results of actual market experience. Mint Finance does not endorse or shall not be liable for the content of information provided by third parties. Use of and/or reliance on such information is entirely at the reader’s own risk. These materials are not intended for distribution to, or for use by or to be acted on by any person or entity located in any jurisdiction where such distribution, use or action would be contrary to applicable laws or regulations or would subject Mint Finance to any registration or licensing requirement.
CME:6JM2023Long
by mintdotfinance
2
Cheap Yen & Low P/E To Deliver Immense Bargains in NikkeiBuying financial assets in dips provides an inbuilt margin of safety. Enriching that trade is a currency that is hovering at its near lowest in a decade. Expected equity gains compounded with Yen that is anticipated to strengthen will strongly propel alpha from the proposed trade setup in Japanese equities. The P/E ratio based on next 12-months earnings in Japan is 13x and cheaper relative to 18x for the S&P500 and 27x for the Nasdaq. The Yen is near its lowest on average based on real-effective exchange rate. It is 2.3x standard deviations below the average over the last decade. For investors looking to hedge their yen exposure, its term structure delivers a positive basis (forward value minus spot price) that can be harvested through hedging. A long position in CME Nikkei/Yen Futures combined with a full currency hedge delivers a 1.9x reward to risk ratio with entry at 29065 and target of 31295 hedged by a stop at 27900. DEMYSTIFYING THE NIKKEI 225 INDEX (“NIKKEI”) The Nikkei index lists 225 largest Japanese firms. Given Japan’s heft, the index is an indicator of Asian market sentiments. The Japanese stock index was previously called Nikkei Dow Jones Stock Average from 1975 to 1985. The name was later changed to Nihon Keizai Shimbun or Japan Economic Newspaper which is commonly referred to as Nikkei. The Nikkei is a price-weighted index with an adjustment factor for each stock. The summation of the adjusted prices is divided by a divisor (29.508) to maintain index continuity. The 225 firms are spread across thirty-five industries. Top fifteen industries form 93% of the index. Top ten firms represent 38% of the Nikkei. Technology, Consumer Goods, Materials, and Capital Goods represent 95% of the index. JAPANESE EQUITIES HAVE BEEN RESILIENT THIS YEAR Japanese equities have delivered 13% gains so far this year with resilience across all sectors. Thanks to Apple and Microsoft, Nasdaq has returned 22% this year as investors seek shelter from ongoing crisis in US banking sector. “Stealth” QE partly explains the outsized gains in Nasdaq. In sharp contrast, S&P500 is up 9%, Dow is up 3%, Russell 2000 is up merely 1% while Chinese equities are down 3%. Positive performance in Nikkei is evident across all sectors and names. Broad based recovery in Japan makes Nikkei far more resilient relative to US equities where superior performance is restricted to no more than a dozen quality names. JAPANESE EQUITIES ARE PRIMED FOR GROWTH Japanese shares continue to inch higher with the Nikkei trading near its highest level in eight months led by earnings optimism and expanded government subsidies for chip production. The prospect of chip makers looks bright after Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said Japan plans to provide additional subsidies to chipmakers. The P/E based on next 12-months earnings in Japan is around ~13x and cheaper relative to ~18x in the US. For every dollar of earnings, only USD 13 is required to be invested in Nikkei compared to USD 18 in the S&P500 & USD 27 in Nasdaq. Japanese stocks not only trade on low P/E but pay healthy dividends. Nikkei has a yield of 2.13% compared to Dow Jones at 2.09%, S&P 500 at 1.67% and Nasdaq-100 at merely 0.86%. THE YEN IS EXPECTED TO REGAIN ITS HAVEN STATUS The yen is expected to regain its status as a haven currency after years of dollar dominance with the BOJ expected to normalise its monetary policy. The BOJ is anticipated to discard its yield-curve control policy in coming months and that should help strengthen the Yen. Barclays analysts expect the yen to appreciate to 123 per dollar by this time next year. The yen has faced headwinds from higher energy prices and a worsening rate differential as global central banks hiked rates to contain inflation. As energy prices ease and the rate hiking cycles pause, selling pressure on the Yen will soften. If the Fed stops raising rates after a final increase this week, that might lead to inflation-adjusted yield differentials to stop widening in favour of USD. Majority of forecasts have the yen strengthening to levels beyond that implied by the forward market. Analysts are one way on the direction of the dollar-yen. Japanese yen forecast for end-2023 was 125 as of last week, compared to FX forward rate at 129. Analysts at RBC fear that these crowded expectations underplay the impact of recession. US recession spreading to global markets could send the Yen plunging to 150 to the dollar as per RBC. COT REPORTS POINT TO BULLISH SENTIMENTS FOR JAPANESE EQUITIES The CFTC’s Commitment of Traders report (COT) shows positioning by professional investors in Nikkei futures. The report shows open interest segmented into four buckets, namely, (a) Asset Managers (pension funds, mutual funds, & institutional asset managers), (b) Leveraged Funds (hedge funds & money managers), (c) Other Reportables (traders using derivatives to hedge business risk), and (d) Non-Reportables (small speculators). Asset Managers have increased their net long positioning by 278% in Yen denominated futures. Leverage funds have reduced net shorts on Dollar-denominated futures. TRADE SET UP Low P/E ratios, Cheap Yen, Resurgence as a Haven, are among the drivers favouring the Nikkei. A long position in CME Nikkei/Yen Futures with currency fully hedged will deliver a 1.9x reward to risk ratio with entry at 29250 and target of 31295 hedged by a stop at 27900. Every tick represents five index points corresponding to a change of JPY 2,500 per lot. ● Entry: 29065 ● Target: 31295 ● Stop: 27900 ● Profit at target: JPY 1,115,000 ● Loss at stop: JPY 582,500 ● FX hedging gains with CME Micro USD/JPY Futures (Dec 23 contract): JPY 37,200 ● Reward-to-risk: 1.9x MARKET DATA CME Real-time Market Data helps identify trading set-ups and express market views better. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com DISCLAIMER This case study is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services. Trading or investment ideas cited here are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management or trading under the market scenarios being discussed. Please read the FULL DISCLAIMER the link to which is provided in our profile description.
CME:NIYM2023Long
by mintdotfinance
1
USD/JPY Surges to 135.00 as BOJ Maintains Dovish PolicyThe USD/JPY pair has surged to near the crucial resistance of 135.00 after the Bank of Japan (BoJ) announced a continuation of ultra-loose monetary policy and stability in Japanese Government Bonds’ (JGBs) yields band to maintain an expansionary policy stance. BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has confirmed that the central bank will take additional easing steps without hesitation as needed while striving for market stability. TRADE IDEA DETAILS Currency Pair: USD/JPY Current Trend: ↗️Bullish Trade Signal: ↗️Buy 👉 Entry Price: Above 135.37 ✅ Take Profit: 137.00, 137.91 ❌ Stop Loss: Below 134.00 Additionally, the USD Index has jumped above 101.76 due to the delay in the US debt-ceiling proposal and pre-Federal Reserve (Fed) policy anxiety among investors. The recovery in appeal for US equities, led by strong quarterly performances by technology companies, has contributed to the recovery of the majority of losses generated in the Asian session, as portrayed by S&P500 futures. #USDJPY #ForexTrading #BankOfJapan #MonetaryPolicy #AscendingTriangle
Long
by RichDadph-FX