- GBP/JPY struggles to gain any meaningful traction and consolidates near a two-week high.
- Bets for additional rate hikes by the BoE underpin the British Pound and acts as a tailwind.
- A modest pickup in demand for the JPY keeps a lid on any meaningful upside for the cross.
- The BoJ’s dovish stance might continue to weigh on the JPY and favours the GBP/JPY bulls.
The GBP/JPY cross oscillates in a narrow band around the 168.00 mark through the early European session on Tuesday and consolidates its recent gains to a two-week high.
Expectations that the Bank of England will continue hiking interest rates to curb inflation, along with subdued US Dollar demand, benefit the British Pound and offers support to the GBP/JPY cross. That said, a bleak outlook for the UK economy acts as a headwind for the Sterling. It is worth mentioning that the UK Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) now projects the UK GDP to slump by 1.4% next year as compared to a growth of 1.8% forecast in March.
Apart from this, a modest pickup in demand for the Japanese Yen keeps a lid on any meaningful upside for the GBP/JPY cross, at least for the time being. The downside potential, however, seems limited amid a dovish stance adopted by the Bank of Japan. In fact, BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda reiterated on Friday that the central bank will stick to its monetary easing to support the economy and achieve the 2% inflation target in a sustained, stable fashion.
This marks a big divergence in comparison to other major central banks, which should continue to weigh on the JPY. In the absence of any major market-moving economic releases, the fundamental backdrop suggests that the path of least resistance for the GBP/JPY cross is to the upside. That said, the lack of strong follow-through buying warrants some caution before positioning for an extension of the recent bounce from the 100-day SMA support tested last week.
Technical levels to watch
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 holds above 1.0700 ahead of key US data
EUR/USD trades in a tight range above 1.0700 in the early European session on Friday. The US Dollar struggles to gather strength ahead of key PCE Price Index data, the Fed's preferred gauge of inflation, and helps the pair hold its ground.
USD/JPY stays above 156.00 after BoJ Governor Ueda's comments
USD/JPY holds above 156.00 after surging above this level with the initial reaction to the Bank of Japan's decision to leave the policy settings unchanged. BoJ Governor said weak Yen was not impacting prices but added that they will watch FX developments closely.
Gold price oscillates in a range as the focus remains glued to the US PCE Price Index
Gold price struggles to attract any meaningful buyers amid the emergence of fresh USD buying. Bets that the Fed will keep rates higher for longer amid sticky inflation help revive the USD demand.
Sei Price Prediction: SEI is in the zone of interest after a 10% leap
Sei price has been in recovery mode for almost ten days now, following a fall of almost 65% beginning in mid-March. While the SEI bulls continue to show strength, the uptrend could prove premature as massive bearish sentiment hovers above the altcoin’s price.
US core PCE inflation set to signal firm price pressures as markets delay Federal Reserve rate cut bets
The core PCE Price Index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, is seen as the more influential measure of inflation in terms of Fed positioning. The index is forecast to rise 0.3% on a monthly basis in March, matching February’s increase.