Japanese Yen: Psychological resistance and intervention fears – MUFG

FXStreet Insights Team FXStreet

MUFG’s Teppei Ino reviews recent USD/JPY trading ahead of Jackson Hole. The pair opened near 159 and repeatedly tested the 160 level, which acted as psychological resistance as traders watched for possible Japanese intervention. A US Treasury plan to expand buybacks triggered US Dollar (USD) selling, briefly pushing USD/JPY toward 158 before a rebound with recovering UST yields.

Jackson Hole focus for Dollar

"The USD/JPY opened the week at 159.19. The pair slipped below 159 during Tokyo and European trading on 17 August before reversing course as US economic data improved and oil prices rose. It continued to edge higher the following day, reaching a high of 159.78."

"The pair subsequently struggled to extend gains as 160 emerged as a psychological resistance level amid continued caution over possible intervention by the Japanese authorities. It gradually fell back toward 159 during Tokyo trading on 19 August before the US Treasury announced plans to expand UST buybacks from September."

"The announcement triggered broad-based dollar selling, pushing the USD/JPY to a low of 158.03 early in Tokyo trading on 20 August. The pair avoided a break below 158 and rebounded as UST yields recovered, returning to above 159 and erasing the previous day's decline. However, it was top-heavy around 159 at the time of writing on 21 August."

"The yen also weakened broadly outside the USD/JPY, with EUR/JPY rising above 185 for the first time since 31 July."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

FXStreet

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

AUD/USD consolidates above 0.6950 amid risk aversion

AUD/USD consolidates in the Asian session on Thursday, trading just above 0.6950 as traders assess developments in the Middle East crisis. The Pentagon reportedly ordered readiness for potential strikes against Iran. This keeps the geopolitical risk premium in play, which, along with hawkish FOMC Minutes and elevated US bond yields, will likely keep the US Dollar underpinned at the expense of the pair.

USD/JPY slips below 158.00 as USD retreats

USD/JPY returns to the red below 158.00 in the Asian session on Thursday amid speculation that authorities will step in to prop up the Japanese Yen. Meanwhile, the US Dollar eases from near an 18-month high on profit taking, ignoring Wednesday's hawkish FOMC Minutes and the risk of a further escalation of tensions in the Middle East, adding to the pair's pullback.

Gold picks up pace; focus is back to $4,150

Gold regains some composure and climbs back to the vicinity $4,150 mark per troy ounce amid decent gains on Thursday. The yellow metal’s recovery follows some loss of momentum in the US Dollar strength and a mild drop in US Treasury yields in the 10y-30y segment.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP extend sell-off amid ETF outflows

Bitcoin (BTC) extends its decline below $83,000 on Thursday as heightened selling pressure weighs on the market. Leading altcoins, including Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP), mirror the sector-wide pullback, with ETH dipping under $2,600 and XRP challenging support at $1.40.

ECB expected to pause in October before hiking rates in December – Reuters poll

The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to leave interest rates unchanged in October before delivering another increase in December, according to a Reuters poll conducted October 5-8. The survey shows that 70 of 73 economists expect the ECB to hold its deposit rate at 2.50% on October 29, while 64 of 73 anticipate a 25-basis-point (bps) hike in December.

The UK 30-year gilt just hit a 1998 high. Is that good or bad for the British Pound?

The yield on the UK's 30-year government bond, or gilt, went through 6% on October 1 for the first time since early 1998, and on Monday the Pound was at its strongest against the Euro since June 2025. The gilt market's 28-year high is mostly someone else's. Since early May, the 30-year gilt yield has risen about 0.15 of a percentage point and the US 30-year about 0.7.