- AUD/JPY recovers its daily losses, possibly driven by a risk-on mood amid the expected Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
- The Japanese Yen receives support from the hawkish sentiment surrounding the BoJ’s policy outlook.
- The Australian Dollar may appreciate due to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s aggressive monetary policy approach.
AUD/JPY trims its intraday losses, trading around 96.10 during the European hours on Wednesday. However, the AUD/JPY cross may hold losses as the Japanese Yen (JPY) receives support from the hawkish sentiment surrounding the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) policy outlook.
Traders await the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate decision scheduled to be released later in the North American session. The focus will shift toward the BoJ policy decision on Friday, with expectations of keeping rates unchanged while leaving the possibility open for further rate hikes.
Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki stated on Tuesday that rapid foreign exchange (FX) fluctuations are undesirable. Suzuki emphasized that officials will closely monitor how FX movements affect the Japanese economy and people's livelihoods. The government will continue to assess the impact of a stronger Japanese Yen and respond accordingly, according to Reuters.
The downside of the AUD/JPY cross could be restrained as the Australian Dollar (AUD) receives support from the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) hawkish stance on monetary policy outlook. RBA Governor Michele Bullock stated that it is premature to consider rate cuts due to persistently high inflation. Additionally, RBA Assistant Governor Sarah Hunter noted that while the labor market remains tight, wage growth appears to have peaked and is expected to slow further.
Investors are now awaiting Australia's jobs data, including Employment Change and the Unemployment Rate for August, set to be released on Thursday. This report may provide insights into the health of the labor market and may influence expectations regarding the future direction of domestic monetary policy.
Interest rates FAQs
Interest rates are charged by financial institutions on loans to borrowers and are paid as interest to savers and depositors. They are influenced by base lending rates, which are set by central banks in response to changes in the economy. Central banks normally have a mandate to ensure price stability, which in most cases means targeting a core inflation rate of around 2%. If inflation falls below target the central bank may cut base lending rates, with a view to stimulating lending and boosting the economy. If inflation rises substantially above 2% it normally results in the central bank raising base lending rates in an attempt to lower inflation.
Higher interest rates generally help strengthen a country’s currency as they make it a more attractive place for global investors to park their money.
Higher interest rates overall weigh on the price of Gold because they increase the opportunity cost of holding Gold instead of investing in an interest-bearing asset or placing cash in the bank. If interest rates are high that usually pushes up the price of the US Dollar (USD), and since Gold is priced in Dollars, this has the effect of lowering the price of Gold.
The Fed funds rate is the overnight rate at which US banks lend to each other. It is the oft-quoted headline rate set by the Federal Reserve at its FOMC meetings. It is set as a range, for example 4.75%-5.00%, though the upper limit (in that case 5.00%) is the quoted figure. Market expectations for future Fed funds rate are tracked by the CME FedWatch tool, which shapes how many financial markets behave in anticipation of future Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.
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. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD stays directed toward 1.1000 amid intense US Dollar selling
EUR/USD is consolidating the uptick to near 1.1000 in the European session on Thursday. The pair benefits from US President Trump's tariffs-led intense US Dollar weakness. However, further upside appears capped due to escalating trade war fears, with looming EU retaliatory tariffs.
GBP/USD jumps above 1.3100 ahead of US data
GBP/USD is extending its upbeat momentum above 1.3100 in European trading on Thursday as the US Dollar slumps to a fresh YTD low. Worries about a tariff-driven US economic slowdown lift Fed rate cut bets and weigh on the Greenback. The focus now remains on the US data for further impetus.
Gold price moves further away from all-time peak; downside potential seems limited
Gold price extends its steady intraday pullback from the all-time peak touched this Thursday, though it manages to hold above the $3,100 mark through the early European session. Bullish traders opt to take some profits off the table and lighten their bets around the commodity amid slightly overbought conditions.
Bitcoin price reacts as Gold sets fresh record highs after Trump’s reciprocal tariffs announcement
Bitcoin price plunges towards $82,000 as Gold soars past $3,150 after US President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on Israel and UK, triggering global markets turbulence.
Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs on the way
United States (US) President Donald Trump’s self-styled “Liberation Day” has finally arrived. After four straight failures to kick off Donald Trump’s “day one” tariffs that were supposed to be implemented when President Trump assumed office 72 days ago, Trump’s team is slated to finally unveil a sweeping, lopsided package of “reciprocal” tariffs.
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.