USD/JPY analysis: yen gains on safe-haven demand

Valeria Bednarik FXStreet

USD/JPY Current price: 113.37

Soft Japanese data prevent the yen from appreciating despite sour market sentiment
US Treasury yields falling to fresh weekly lows.

The USD/JPY pair came under selling pressure in the US afternoon, dragged lower by a sharp reversal in US equities, weighed by tech and bank-related shares, these last weighed by a pullback in US Treasury yields after American inflation missed market's expectations. Data released at the beginning of the day showed that the economic growth shrunk in Japan according to Q3 GDP, down 0.3% in the three months to September. The annualized reading was even worse-than-expected, down 1.2% vs. an expected reading of -1.0%. Also, the Tertiary Industry Index for September fell 1.1% more than doubling the expected 0.4% decline, while Industrial Production in the same month declined by 0.4%, better than the forecasted -1.1%.

The USD/JPY fell to 113.29, a new weekly low trading a few pips above the level by the end of the US session. The 4 hours chart for the pair shows that it is still developing well above its 100 and 200 SMA, both around the 113.00 level and with the shortest advancing below the larger one as technical indicators resume their declines within negative levels, skewing the risk to the downside. Renewed selling interest below 113.20, now the immediate support should lead to a steeper decline, particularly if Asian shares follow the lead of their overseas counterparts.

Support levels: 113.20 112.85 112.50

Resistance level: 113.90 114.20 114.55

View Live Chart for the USD/JPY

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.

EUR/USD hits two-day highs near 1.1820

EUR/USD picks up pace and reaches two-day tops around 1.1820 at the end of the week. The pair’s move higher comes on the back of renewed weakness in the US Dollar amid growing talk that the Fed could deliver an interest rate cut as early as March. On the docket, the flash US Consumer Sentiment improves to 57.3 in February.

GBP/USD reclaims 1.3600 and above

GBP/USD reverses two straight days of losses, surpassing the key 1.3600 yardstick on Friday. Cable’s rebound comes as the Greenback slips away from two-week highs in response to some profit-taking mood and speculation of Fed rate cuts. In addition, hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill are also collaborating with the quid’s improvement.

Gold climbs further, focus is back to 45,000

Gold regains upside traction and surpasses the $4,900 mark per troy ounce at the end of the week, shifting its attention to the critical $5,000 region. The move reflects a shift in risk sentiment, driving flows back towards traditional safe haven assets and supporting the yellow metal.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP rebound amid risk-off, $2.6 billion liquidation wave

Bitcoin edges up above $65,000 at the time of writing on Friday, as dust from the recent macro-triggered sell-off settles. The leading altcoin, Ethereum, hovers above $1,900, but resistance at $2,000 caps the upside. Meanwhile, Ripple has recorded the largest intraday jump among the three assets, up over 10% to $1.35.

Three scenarios for Japanese Yen ahead of snap election

The latest polls point to a dominant win for the ruling bloc at the upcoming Japanese snap election. The larger Sanae Takaichi’s mandate, the more investors fear faster implementation of tax cuts and spending plans.

XRP rally extends as modest ETF inflows support recovery

Ripple is accelerating its recovery, trading above $1.36 at the time of writing on Friday, as investors adjust their positions following a turbulent week in the broader crypto market. The remittance token is up over 21% from its intraday low of $1.12.