AUD/JPY extends its upside above 99.90 on upbeat Australian data, BoJ’s cautious stance
|- AUD/JPY trades in positive territory for the third consecutive day around 99.92 on Thursday.
- The BoJ's cautious outlook and upbeat Australian data provide some support to the cross.
- The final reading of Australia's Judo Bank Services PMI rose to 54.4 in March against 53.5 prior.
The AUD/JPY cross extends its upside to two-week peaks around 99.92 on Thursday during the early European session. The dovish stance from the Bank of Japan (BoJ) at its March meeting and the lack of any guidance about future policy steps exert some selling pressure on the Japanese Yen (JPY). Australia’s Trade Balance for March will be released on Friday for fresh impetus.
The BoJ’s first interest rate hike in 17 years failed to boost the JPY as the rates in Japan remain much lower than the rest of the world. Furthermore, the expectations that the Japanese central bank will go slow in any further rate hikes and the lack of any guidance about the pace of policy normalization, weigh on the safe-haven JPY against the Australian Dollar (AUD) and create a tailwind for the AUD/JPY cross.
On the Aussie front, business activity in Australia improved further in March. The final reading of Australia's Judo Bank Services PMI rose to 54.4 in March from the previous reading of 53.5, while the Composite PMI figure climbed to 53.3 in March versus 52.4 prior. The upbeat data provides some support to the AUD amid a positive tone around the equity markets on Thursday. On the other hand, the upside of the AUD/JPY cross might be limited due to the higher possibility that the Japanese authorities will intervene in the foreign exchange (FX) market to prevent the depreciation of the JPY.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers.