USD/JPY analysis: bulls have more chances once 109.20 gets cleared
USD/JPY Current price: 108.93
- Better-than-expected US banks results gave USD/JPY a lift.
- Long-term, the bearish case is strong amid poor fundamental background.
The USD/JPY pair posted a modest intraday advance, nearing the 109.00 figure late US session. Most of its intraday gains were obtained during US trading hours amid Wall Street's strength, as Bank of America and Goldman Sachs reported better-than-expected results in their fourth-quarter profit. Asian and European equities, on the other hand, spent the day hesitating around their opening levels, weighed by growth and political concerns. Additional support came from US Treasury yields, which rose to flirt with last week's high, as the benchmark yield for the 10-year note hit 2.73%.
Japanese data released at the beginning of the day fueled concerns about global growth, as most numbers were disappointing. According to official figures, the Domestic Corporate Goods Price Index was down in December by 0.6% MoM, posting a modest yearly advance of 0.8%. Machinery Orders in November remained flat, failing to grow, while when compared to a year early, were up 0.8% better than the market's forecast but far below the previous 4.5%. Finally, the Tertiary Industry Index was down 0.3% in December. BOJ's Kuroda is due to speak, but within the inauguration of the G-20 meeting, not expected to say something relevant for the market.
The USD/JPY pair advances near a key resistance area, not far below the 61.8% retracement of its latest monthly decline at 109.05. The 4 hours chart shows that the 100 SMA stands a handful of pips above this last, while technical indicators grind higher well into positive ground, somehow favoring additional gains without confirming them, as for such to happen, the pair would need to surpass 109.20, now the immediate resistance. Once above it, the longer-term downward pressure will ease, with little in the way toward the 110.00 figure.
Support levels: 108.65 108.30 107.90
Resistance levels: 109.20 109.50 109.85
Author
Valeria Bednarik
FXStreet
Valeria Bednarik was born and lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her passion for math and numbers pushed her into studying economics in her younger years.
