|

USD/JPY: Levels below 120.00 are plausible for later this year – MUFG

According to analysts at MUFG Bank, the Japanese Yen is set to gain further ground on the back of monetary policy expectations from the Bank of Japan. They consider possible a slide under 120.00 for later in 2023.

Key quotes:

“USD/JPY has fallen further still today and is now 15.5% down from the peak on 21st October – each of the three months in Q4 brought reason to buy the yen – intervention by the BoJ in October and November and the YCC change in December. On top of that US inflation has fallen faster than expected. Will we get another clear reason to sell USD/JPY in January too? That looks very plausible at this juncture. YCC as a policy is only sustainable if credible and has the confidence of the market. That confidence is unravelling quickly.”

“USD/JPY today broke below the 61.8% Fibonacci level (128.61) of the retracement of the entire move from March last year to the high in October and suggests further downside ahead. Positioning could be turning excessive in anticipation of a YCC change next week so a risk of a near-term correction is increasing. Nonetheless, the downside move suggests a complete reversal of the 2022 move is feasible this year implying levels below 120.00 are plausible for later this year.”

Author

Matías Salord

Matías started in financial markets in 2008, after graduating in Economics. He was trained in chart analysis and then became an educator. He also studied Journalism. He started writing analyses for specialized websites before joining FXStreet.

More from Matías Salord
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD holds steady near 1.1650 ahead of US data

EUR/USD stabilizes near 1.1650 on Friday after facing a rejection once again near seven-week highs. The pair, however, continues to draw support from persistent US Dollar weakness, despite a cautious market mood. Traders now await the US September PCE inflation and UoM Consumer Sentiment data. 

GBP/USD clings to gains in 1.3350 region, eyes on US data

GBP/USD sticks to a positive bias near 1.3350 in the second half of the day on Friday. Traders prefer to wait on the sidelines ahead of the key US inflation and sentiment data due later in the day. In the meantime, broad-based US Dollar weakness helps the pair stay afloat. 

Gold remains below $4,250 as traders await key US data

Gold gains some positive traction on Friday and trades in the upper half of its weekly range. Dovish Fed expectations continue to undermine the USD and lend support to the commodity. Bulls, however, might opt to wait for the US PCE Price Index before placing aggressive bets.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP pare gains despite increasing hopes of upcoming Fed rate cut

Bitcoin is steadying above $91,000 at the time of writing on Friday. Ethereum remains above $3,100, reflecting positive sentiment ahead of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) monetary policy meeting on December 10.

Week ahead – Rate cut or market shock? The Fed decides

Fed rate cut widely expected; dot plot and overall meeting rhetoric also matter. Risk appetite is supported by Fed rate cut expectations; cryptos show signs of life. RBA, BoC and SNB also meet; chances of surprises are relatively low.

Ripple faces persistent bear risks, shrugging off ETF inflows

Ripple is extending its decline for the second consecutive day, trading at $2.06 at the time of writing on Friday. Sentiment surrounding the cross-border remittance token continues to lag despite steady inflows into XRP spot ETFs.