Japanese Yen recovers as intervention risk offsets US Dollar strength

USD/JPY reverses its earlier gains on Thursday as traders hesitate to push the pair higher amid the risk of intervention by Japanese authorities. This allows the Japanese Yen (JPY) to regain some ground even as the US Dollar (USD) climbs to a fresh year-to-date high. At the time of writing, USD/JPY trades around 157.95 after touching an intraday high near 158.44.

The US Dollar remains firmly supported by elevated US Treasury yields and resilient economic data. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback against six major currencies, trades near 102.13, while the benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield holds around 5.25%, after reaching 5.34%, its highest level since 2002.

Recent US economic data points to continued resilience, allowing the Federal Reserve (Fed) to keep borrowing costs elevated. The ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) eased slightly to 54.5 in September from 54.6, missing the 55.0 forecast. However, the Prices Paid Index jumped to 77.9 from 71.1, pointing to persistent inflationary pressures. Initial Jobless Claims fell to 197K in the week ending September 26, below expectations of 200K and the previous reading of 198K.

The data follows an upward revision to US economic growth and downward revisions to inflation figures. Softer-than-expected Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data prompted traders to scale back expectations of a rate hike at the October 27-28 meeting. Still, with inflation running above the central bank’s 2% target, policymakers remain concerned about price pressures, keeping another rate hike later this year on the table.

Yen upside capped as Japan data and BoJ signals keep tightening bar high

Brown Brothers Harriman’s Elias Haddad points out that Japan’s latest data and policy signals continue to argue against a rapid shift in the BoJ’s stance. He notes that Japan’s Q3 Tankan survey and the BoJ’s September meeting Summary of Opinions “suggest the bar for the BoJ to speed up its tightening cycle remains high.” The Tankan all industries business conditions index “improved to a 35-year high of 21 vs. 18 in Q2,” but Haddad highlights that “businesses expect it to ease to 15 in Q4 and inflation expectations were broadly steady,” tempering the case for more aggressive policy action.

At the same time, he observes that the BoJ’s Summary of Opinions was “hawkish on direction but generally cautious on the pace,” underscoring a preference for gradualism. Adding to that restraint, Haddad flags that “the Cabinet Office urging BoJ policymakers ‘to examine carefully the cumulative effects of past policy interest rate hikes’ adds resistance to a faster hiking cycle,” reinforcing the view that any further tightening is likely to proceed slowly and limiting near-term upside for the Yen.

The BoJ is still moving toward higher rates, but its gradual approach contrasts with tighter policy settings in the United States and other major economies. The wide US-Japan interest-rate gap therefore remains a major source of pressure on the Yen.

For now, the threat of intervention is keeping that pressure in check. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Thursday that the Yen’s undervaluation poses a problem, strengthening the view that authorities could step in if currency moves become rapid or disorderly.