GBP/JPY maintains position around 196.00 after recovering losses


  • GBP/JPY trims its daily losses after the interest rate decision by the BoJ.
  • BoJ raised the short-term rate target by 15 basis points to the range of 0.15%-0.25%, from 0%-0.1%.
  • The Pound Sterling could struggle due to a potential BoE rate cut on Thursday.

GBP/JPY pares its intraday losses after the release of the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) interest rate decision on Wednesday. The GBP/JPY cross trades around 196.20 during the Asian hours, with the Japanese Yen (JPY) loses ground despite the BoJ board members deciding to raise the short-term rate target by 15 basis points (bps) from the range of 0%-0.1% to 0.15%-0.25%.

Additionally, the BoJ decided to taper Japanese government bonds (JGB) buying to ¥3 trillion ($19.07 billion) per month from ¥6 trillion as of the first quarter of 2026. BoJ Press Conference will be eyed to gain more impetus on the Japanese policy trajectory.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated on Tuesday that the Bank of Japan and the government will closely coordinate. Hayashi emphasized that the BoJ will work closely with the government to implement appropriate monetary policies aimed at achieving the inflation target.

On the GBP front, traders continue to price in a potential rate cut by the Bank of England (BoE) on Thursday, which puts downward pressure on the Pound Sterling (GBP) and limits the upside of the GBP/JPY cross. Reuters reported nearly 58% odds that the BoE will lower its borrowing costs by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.0%.

Additionally, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) is expected to keep rates unchanged in July, with the decision due on Wednesday. However, there is growing anticipation of a rate cut in September, which is putting pressure on the USD and providing support for other riskier currencies like the British Pound.

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.

Share: Feed news

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.

Trading Pro
Read review
Pepperstone
Read review
Trading Pro
Read review
Pepperstone
Read review
Trading Pro
Read review
Pepperstone
Read review
XM
Read review
Moneta Markets
Read review
XM
Read review
Moneta Markets
Read review

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

AUD/USD holds steady above 0.6300; looks to US NFP for fresh impetus

AUD/USD holds steady above 0.6300; looks to US NFP for fresh impetus

AUD/USD stalls the previous day's pullback from the 0.6400 neighborhood, or over a two-week high, and oscillates in a range during the Asian session on Friday ahead of the US NFP. In the meantime, the USD struggles to lure buyers as Trump's sweeping tariffs lift recession fears, which might force the Fed to resume its rate-cutting cycle soon. 

AUD/USD News
USD/JPY recovers slightly from multi-month low; upside seems limited ahead of US NFP

USD/JPY recovers slightly from multi-month low; upside seems limited ahead of US NFP

USD/JPY attracts some buyers during the Asian session on Friday and moves away from its lowest level since October set the previous day. Investors scale back their expectations that the BoJ would raise policy rate at a faster pace amid worries that Trump's new tariffs could negatively impact Japan's economy, which is seen weighing on the JPY. 

USD/JPY News
Gold holds positive ground above $3,100, all eyes on US NFP data

Gold holds positive ground above $3,100, all eyes on US NFP data

Gold price recovers some lost ground to near $3,115 during the Asian session on Thursday after facing some profit-taking in the previous session. Escalating concerns over a global trade war and ongoing geopolitical risks boost the Gold price, a traditional safe-haven asset. 

Gold News
What to expect from Bitcoin and XRP following Trump tariffs: Experts weigh in

What to expect from Bitcoin and XRP following Trump tariffs: Experts weigh in

Bitcoin stretched its decline on Thursday, briefly dropping below $83,000 as President Trump's newly announced reciprocal tariffs extended the crypto market downturn by over 4%. The sustained decline and high volatility highlight Bitcoin's increasing risk to macroeconomic uncertainties. 

Read more
Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs on the way

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. 

Read more
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD

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.

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures

Best Brokers of 2025