GBP/JPY edges higher as rising Oil prices weigh on Japan’s economic outlook
- GBP/JPY rises for a second day as elevated Oil prices weigh on the Japanese Yen.
- Markets stay cautious ahead of Trump’s 20:00 ET deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
- Interest rate divergence between the BoE and BoJ underpins upside in GBP/JPY.
The British Pound (GBP) trades with a mild upside bias against the Japanese Yen (JPY) on Tuesday, as elevated Oil prices stemming from the ongoing US-Iran war weigh heavily on Japan’s economic outlook, keeping the Yen on the defensive against most major peers.
At the time of writing, GBP/JPY is trading around 211.60, hovering near one-week highs.
Traders remain cautious ahead of a key deadline set by US President Donald Trump, who warned Iran to “make a deal or open up the Strait of Hormuz” by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (00:00 GMT on Wednesday). Trump has threatened to target Iran’s energy and civilian infrastructure if no agreement is reached.
As a major net energy importer, Japan is particularly vulnerable to rising Oil prices, which increase the country’s import bill, widen trade deficits, and weigh on the currency. Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said authorities “will have to respond to the environment surrounding the Japanese economy, considering the Middle East situation,” adding that policymakers are “checking all scenarios, including optimistic and pessimistic ones, in terms of oil stockpiles.”
While higher inflation expectations may keep the Bank of Japan (BoJ) on a gradual tightening path, the hit to economic growth from elevated energy costs could limit the pace of further policy normalization.
Meanwhile, the UK is also a net energy importer, but its exposure is relatively lower than Japan’s, making the impact of the energy shock less severe.
Still, with economic growth already fragile and inflation remaining above the Bank of England (BoE) target, policymakers are expected to keep interest rates higher for longer, with markets pricing in up to two rate hikes by year-end.
Against this backdrop, the outlook for GBP/JPY remains tilted to the upside, supported by widening interest rate differentials. However, further gains may be limited, as intervention risks loom with USD/JPY trading close to the 160 level, an area that has previously triggered official action from Japanese authorities.
On the data front, the UK’s S&P Global Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to 50.5 in March, down from 53.9 in February and marking its lowest level since April 2025. The reading also came in below the earlier flash estimate of 51.2. Meanwhile, the Composite PMI declined to 50.3 from 53.7. In Japan, focus turns to data due on Wednesday, including Labor Cash Earnings for February and the Current Account (n.s.a.) balance.
Japanese Yen Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of Japanese Yen (JPY) against listed major currencies today. Japanese Yen was the strongest against the Swiss Franc.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.16% | -0.05% | 0.06% | 0.09% | -0.24% | 0.24% | 0.23% | |
| EUR | 0.16% | 0.11% | 0.22% | 0.21% | -0.10% | 0.39% | 0.40% | |
| GBP | 0.05% | -0.11% | 0.11% | 0.11% | -0.19% | 0.30% | 0.30% | |
| JPY | -0.06% | -0.22% | -0.11% | 0.01% | -0.31% | 0.17% | 0.17% | |
| CAD | -0.09% | -0.21% | -0.11% | -0.01% | -0.32% | 0.15% | 0.17% | |
| AUD | 0.24% | 0.10% | 0.19% | 0.31% | 0.32% | 0.48% | 0.50% | |
| NZD | -0.24% | -0.39% | -0.30% | -0.17% | -0.15% | -0.48% | 0.03% | |
| CHF | -0.23% | -0.40% | -0.30% | -0.17% | -0.17% | -0.50% | -0.03% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Japanese Yen from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent JPY (base)/USD (quote).
Author
Vishal Chaturvedi
FXStreet
I am a macro-focused research analyst with over four years of experience covering forex and commodities market. I enjoy breaking down complex economic trends and turning them into clear, actionable insights that help traders stay ahead of the curve.
