- GBP/JPY is seen consolidating its recent strong gains to the highest level since December 2015.
- The BoJ-BoE policy divergence is seen as a key factor that continues to lend support to the cross.
- Bulls now await the UK consumer inflation figures and the BoE meeting before placing fresh bets.
The GBP/JPY cross enters a bullish consolidation phase on Monday and oscillates in a narrow range around the 181.80-181.25 area, or just below its highest level since December 2015 touched during the Asian session.
The Japanese Yen (JPY) continues to be undermined by the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) dovish stance, which, in turn, is seen as a key factor acting as a tailwind for the GBP/JPY cross. It is worth recalling that the Japanese central bank decided to leave its ultra-loose policy settings unchanged on Friday and kept intact its view that inflation will slow later this year. As was anticipated, the BoJ held its short-term interest rate target at -0.1% and made no changes to its yield curve control policy to support the fragile domestic economy.
In contrast, the Bank of England (BoE) is expected to hike the benchmark rates by 25 bps on Thursday, to 4.75% or the highest since April 2008. Moreover, the markets are pricing in the possibility of a bigger, 50 bps lift-off, which, continues to lend support to the British Pound and the GBP/JPY cross. Bulls, however, seem reluctant to place fresh bets and prefer to move to the sidelines ahead of this week's key data/central bank event risks - the release of the latest consumer inflation figures from the UK and the BoE policy meeting.
Apart from this, a generally softer tone around the equity markets offers some support to the safe-haven JPY and contributes to capping the upside for the GBP/JPY cross, at least for the time being. That said, the aforementioned fundamental backdrop suggests that the path of least resistance for spot prices is to the upside and any meaningful pullback might still be seen as a buying opportunity. In the absence of any relevant market-moving economic releases on Monday, the cross seems more likely to prolong its sideways consolidative price move.
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 resumes slide and approaches 1.0900
EUR/USD failed to extend gains and is back under selling pressure in the American session. United States inflation and employment-related figures kept the Fed on the 25 bps rate cut path.
GBP/USD loses momentum and drops to 1.3050
The British pound seems to be running out of steam on Thursday, prompting GBP/USD to face some selling pressueer and slip back to the 1.3050 area, down modestly for the day.
Gold grinds north above $2,620
Gold price bounced sharply after nearing the $2,600 mark, now trading around the $2,620 level. The US Dollar saw a short-lived spike following the release of US data, which came opposite to the Fed needs.
Bitcoin vulnerable despite surge in stablecoin market capitalization
Bitcoin price closed below the $62,000 support on Wednesday, showing signs of weakness. CryptoQuant report shows how rising stablecoin market capitalization could be a positive sign for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
RBA widely expected to keep key interest rate unchanged amid persisting price pressures
The Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to continue bucking the trend adopted by major central banks of the dovish policy pivot, opting to maintain the policy for the seventh consecutive meeting on Tuesday.
Five best Forex brokers in 2024
VERIFIED Choosing the best Forex broker in 2024 requires careful consideration of certain essential factors. With the wide array of options available, it is crucial to find a broker that aligns with your trading style, experience level, and financial goals.