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August 13th - According to foreign media reports, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports a near-term interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan, with the next move likely in September or October. The Bank of Japans concerns about the weak yen pushing up prices, coupled with the governments desire to enhance the effectiveness of recent joint US-Japan foreign exchange market intervention, have led to a convergence in their stance on the necessity of a near-term rate hike. The Prime Ministers Office believes that specific monetary policy measures, including interest rate hikes, should be decided by the Bank of Japan, but both sides should cooperate closely to achieve the 2% inflation target with "stability."Market news: The Bank of Japan may raise interest rates in September or October.Market news: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reportedly supports the Bank of Japan raising interest rates more quickly.On August 13, the Bank of Korea (BOK) purchased gold-related assets for the first time in 13 years to hedge against geopolitical and economic uncertainties. According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the BOK held 679,765 shares of SPDR Gold Shares, worth approximately $250 million, at the end of the second quarter. The filing shows that three months prior, the bank did not hold any shares in the worlds largest physical gold-backed ETF. The BOK stated that this investment marks its first purchase of gold-linked assets since 2013. This purchase will not increase the banks official gold reserves, as gold ETFs are classified as securities and are part of its foreign exchange reserves. Choi Kyuho, an economist at Hanwha Investment & Securities, said, "The BOKs current gold allocation is quite low. From a global standards perspective, the BOK still has room to purchase more gold. I believe they will gradually increase their gold holdings."According to Interfax news agency, local officials said a drone struck an industrial area in Bashkorto, Russia.

The USD/JPY Currency Pair Swings in a 60-Pip Range as Bulls Reclaim 124.00 on a Positive Note

Drake Hampton

Apr 08, 2022 10:07

Tips

  • The USD/JPY is up 1.26 percent this week.

  • The greenback strengthens as investors shrug off geopolitical concerns.

  • Forecast for the USD/JPY Exchange Rate: As bulls, we are leaning upward and are aiming for the YTD high of 125.10.

 

As the Asian Pacific session opens, USD/JPY pair extends its weekly gains on broad US dollar strength. The USD/JPY remains strong at 124.15, after trading in a tight 55-pip range over the last three days as the Eastern Europe conflict between Russia and Ukraine enters its sixth day.

 

Asian market futures continue to trade higher, despite the ongoing Russia-Ukraine confrontation. Contrary to the positive tone of Asian market futures, which point to a stronger open, US equities concluded the afternoon in a divided mood. Investors shrugged aside Russia-Ukraine tensions on Thursday, despite Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's complaint that Ukraine's new draft accord submitted to Russia does not meet Russia's demands on Crimea and Donbas. Meanwhile, recent reports indicate that Russia is regrouping soldiers in preparation for another offensive aimed at reclaiming Ukraine's eastern territories, Donetsk and Luhansk.

 

The North American session on Thursday featured Fed speakers, lead by St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, who stated that the Fed is still behind the curve in its efforts to contain inflation. Bullard said that by the second half of the year, he would like to see the Federal Funds Rate (FFR) at 3.5 percent.

 

Later that day, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans indicated that "we (the Fed) will reach neutral by the end of this year or early next."

 

On the Japanese docket, the Current Account for February and Consumer Confidence for March would be the headline economic data releases. On the US front, Wholesale Inventories for February will be released on a monthly basis. 

USD/JPY Forecast: Technical Analysis

The USD/JPY continues bullish, but the average daily range (ADR) has been 55 pips during the last three days. Daily moving averages (DMAs) below the spot price further reinforce the uptrend, and it's worth noting that the 100-DMA at 109.48 is on the verge of crossing over the 200-DMA at 109.60.

 

With that considered, the first resistance level for the USD/JPY would be 124.00. If the latter is breached, the March 29 daily high of 124.30 will be revealed, followed by the year-to-date high of 125.10.


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