USD/JPY faces barricades above 138.50 as BOJ looks to unwind ultra-loose policy

USD/JPY is facing selling pressure above 138.50 as the risk-off impulse has lost its traction.
Market participants are divided on decisions over deceleration in an interest rate hike by the Fed.
A Reuters poll claims that the BOJ could consider unwinding monetary easing in the second half of 2023.

Sagar Dua FXStreet

The USD/JPY pair has witnessed a rebound after dropping below 138.50 in the Asian session. The rebound seems to lack confidence and is expected to witness fresh selling pressure after dropping below the same. Meanwhile, the risk-off impulse has lost its glory as China has announced stimulus to offset bleak economic projections amid escalating Covid-19 infections.

The risk-appetite theme has recovered sharply and is impacting the US Dollar Index (DXY). The USD Index has refreshed its intraday low near 106.25 and is expected to extend its losses further. Meanwhile, the 10-year US Treasury yields have extended their gains above 3.71% ahead of the speech from Federal Reserve (Fed) chair Jerome Powell.

Market participants are divided on the decision over deceleration in the interest rate hike by the Fed. A decline in inflation in October month and rising financial risks in the United States economy have resulted in expectations for a slowdown in the rate hike pace.

Apart from that Fed’s Beige Book will also remain in focus. The Fed’s Beige Book will provide projections for growth rate and inflation, the current situation of consumer spending, and other economic catalysts. Also, the US Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Employment data will be keenly watched. The US economy is expected to display a decline in employment generation amid rising interest rates.

On the Tokyo front, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is expected to consider unwinding the prolonged monetary easing, according to an economists’ poll by Reuters. More than 90% of economists have supported the view of phasing out monetary easing in the latter half of CY2023. This might strengthen the Japanese yen bulls further as BOJ’s ultra-loose policy has been a major factor behind the yen’s weakness.

USD/JPY

Overview
Today last price	138.47
Today Daily Change	-0.48
Today Daily Change %	-0.35
Today daily open	138.95

Trends
Daily SMA20	142.38
Daily SMA50	144.68
Daily SMA100	141.19
Daily SMA200	134.08

Levels
Previous Daily High	139.42
Previous Daily Low	137.5
Previous Weekly High	142.25
Previous Weekly Low	138.05
Previous Monthly High	151.94
Previous Monthly Low	143.53
Daily Fibonacci 38.2%	138.23
Daily Fibonacci 61.8%	138.69
Daily Pivot Point S1	137.82
Daily Pivot Point S2	136.7
Daily Pivot Point S3	135.9
Daily Pivot Point R1	139.75
Daily Pivot Point R2	140.55
Daily Pivot Point R3	141.67

Author

Sagar Dua

FXStreet

Sagar Dua is associated with the financial markets from his college days. Along with pursuing post-graduation in Commerce in 2014, he started his markets training with chart analysis.

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