The Japanese yen has surged higher on Friday after a strong inflation release. In the European session, USD/JPY is trading at 150.19, down 0.87% on the day. Earlier, the yen has broken below the symbolic 150 level for the first time since Oct. 21.
Tokyo Core CPI beats expectations
Tokyo Core CPI, a key inflation indicator which excludes fresh food and energy, rose 2.2% in November, above market expectations of 2.1% and above the October gain of 1.8%. Tokyo CPI jumped 2.6% in November, blowing past the October reading of 1.8% and the forecast of 1.9%.
The robust inflation data has sent the yen sharply higher as expectations for a December rate hike have climbed. The markets still aren’t sure which way the wind is blowing and have priced a December cut at around 60%. The Bank of Japan won’t win any points for transparency about its rate plans but the BoJ has hinted that its plans to continue raising rates and moving towards normalization. If the BoJ stays on the sidelines next month, it is expected to trim rates in early 2025.
The BoJ has more on its mind than inflation when it comes to rate policy. The yen has been on a miserable slide since early October, although it has shown some strength this week. The BoJ is under pressure to raise rates in order to support the yen, although a quarter-point rate may not provide much of a boost.
If the yen continues to lose ground and moves back towards the 155-160 level, we can expect the Ministry of Finance and the BoJ to warn about a possible currency intervention. This would be a last resort but Tokyo has carried through with interventions when it felt the yen was depreciating too quickly.
USD/JPY technical
USD/JPY has pushed below several support lines today. Currently, there is weak support at 149.89, followed closely by 149.63.
152.05 and 152.54 are the next resistance lines.
This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors — not necessarily OANDA’s, its officers or directors. OANDA’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy apply. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD turns positive above 1.1500, Dollar retreats
EUR/USD now makes a reversal, up modestly for the day after surpassing the 1.1500 barrier. The pair’s rebound came on the back of increasing and renewed selling pressure around the Greenback, particularly after FOMC Governor M. Bowman opened the door to a July rate cut. Meanwhile, investors remain watchful of the geopolitical landscape ahead of a potential move by Iran in response to the recent US attacks.
Could Iran block the Strait of Hormuz? Why Oil is on edge after US strikes
As the Israel-Iran conflict reaches new heights, an old threat is coming back to haunt the markets: that of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow arm of the sea in the Persian Gulf, wedged between Iran to the north and the United Arab Emirates and Oman to the south, is much more than a simple sea passage.
Gold treads water below $3,400 on stronger USD
Gold begins the week on a downward trend, trading below the key $3,400 mark per troy ounce. In the meantime, the precious metal has managed to limit its losses amid the stronger US Dollar (USD) and rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
AI Tokens Price Prediction: Story, Virtuals Protocol rebound following sell-off after US strikes on Iran
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East caused a liquidation havoc of over $1 billion in the cryptocurrency market over the weekend, following US President Donald Trump’s direct involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
GBP/USD climbs to daily highs around 1.3480
After bottoming out in multi-week lows near 1.3370, GBP/USD now picks up pace and gains around a cent to hit new daily peaks around 1.3480 in response to fresh selling pressure hitting the Greenback. The knee-jerk in the US Dollar comes despite steady fears on the Iran-Israel-US front and firm results from preliminary US PMIs for the month of June. On the UK docket, all the attention remains on upcoming flash Manufacturing and Services PMIs.
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.