Japanese Yen rebounds modestly despite weak trade data, Fed policy in focus

The Japanese Yen (JPY) halts its three-day losing streak against the US Dollar (USD) on Wednesday, finding modest support despite a string of soft trade data. The Yen’s resilience comes as the Greenback trades cautiously ahead of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate decision, helping the Japanese Yen regain some lost ground.

At the time of writing, the USD/JPY pair is edging lower, trading around 144.75 during the American session and erasing nearly all of Tuesday’s gains.

The pair is down about 0.33% on the day, having reversed sharply after failing to sustain momentum near Tuesday’s high of 145.38. Notably, the 145.00–145.50 region has consistently acted as a ceiling for the pair since the beginning of June, reinforcing the area as a near-term resistance.

Earlier in the day, fresh trade data highlighted the challenges facing Japan’s economy. Exports fell by 1.7% YoY in May to a four-month low of JPY 8,134.99 billion, marking the first annual decline since last September as sweeping US tariffs weighed on overseas shipments. Still, the drop was milder than the 3.8% fall markets had expected.

Imports contracted more sharply, down 7.7% YoY to a three-month low of JPY 8,772.60 billion — the biggest decline since January 2024 — reflecting weak domestic demand.

Despite the softer trade flows, Japan’s trade deficit narrowed markedly to JPY 637.61 billion in May, significantly better than the projected JPY 893 billion gap and down substantially from the JPY 115.6 billion shortfall recorded a year earlier, providing a slight cushion to the Yen amid broader economic headwinds.

On Tuesday, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged as expected, but policymakers remain at a critical juncture as they navigate competing pressures from rising commodity prices and escalating US trade barriers.

Japan’s inflation is being driven by surging Oil prices, fueled by Middle East tensions, alongside higher food costs, with rice prices climbing notably. Governor Kazuo Ueda has signaled a cautious but flexible stance, balancing these inflationary risks with the potential drag from external tariffs.

The central bank’s official outlook forecasts core inflation at 2.2% for the next fiscal year, moderating to 1.7% thereafter. However, officials have kept the door open to policy adjustments if inflation dynamics or US trade policy shift unexpectedly.

Looking ahead, traders turn their focus to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, scheduled for 18:00 GMT. While markets broadly expect the Fed to keep rates unchanged, any signals on the future policy path, updated economic projections, or shifts in the dot plot could steer fresh moves in USD/JPY and broader market sentiment in the sessions to come.