GBP/JPY finds support close to 167.30 as focus shifts to UK inflation and BOE policy

The GBP/JPY pair is gauging demand after slipping to approximately 167.30 during the early Asian session. After failing to surpass the 168.00 round-level barrier, there was selling pressure on the cross. In the interim, the GBP/USD pair has retraced ahead of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) monetary policy, suggesting a cautious market tone.

As the policy divergence between the Bank of England (BOE) and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is projected to widen further in the wake of the Bank of England's (BOE) interest rate hike on December 15, the cross is forecast to recover significantly.

Despite the recession, the Bank of England will increase interest rates by another 50 basis points (bps) next week, boosting the cost of borrowing to 3.50 percent, according to a Reuters poll. To eliminate inflationary pressures in the United Kingdom, additional policy tightening is necessary.

But before that, investors will focus on the United Kingdom's inflation data on Wednesday. According to projections, the annual inflation rate for November would likely increase from 11.1% to 11.5%. The recent rise in food price inflation, caused by a labor shortage and rising input costs, has raised expectations for the headline inflation rate.

As a result of a decrease in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data, the likelihood of a dip in Tokyo's inflation has increased. A decline in demand never causes the price increase index to rise. Even if salaries climb by 3%, Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda believes the BOJ would retain its current easy monetary policy until inflation reaches 2%.