USD/JPY moves upward towards 149.00, US data eyed

USD/JPY extends its gains on the second successive day, trading higher around 148.80 during the Asian session on Wednesday. The pair rebounded in the previous session on the positive risk sentiment in the midst of the Middle East conflict.

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is considering revising its fiscal year 2023/24 core Consumer Price Index (CPI) estimate aiming for 3% compared to the previous forecast of 2.5%, which reflects an optimistic outlook on inflation.

The situation with China’s Country Garden's potential default on a $15 million coupon payment adds another twist. The property sector's challenges, despite signs of recovery in China's overall economy, are definitely something to keep an eye on.

If Country Garden goes through with the default, it could have broader implications for the Japanese Yen. Japan and China's economic ties are significant, and disturbances in one can often ripple into the other.

Additionally, the decline in Japan's non-seasonally adjusted Current Account for August, falling short of the forecast, might raise some concerns, especially when considering the broader economic context.

The report printed a reading of ¥2,279.7B, compared to the forecast of ¥3,090.9B and the previous reading of ¥2,771.7B. The Japanese economic calendar for the rest of the week is notably thin, with only low-impact data scheduled for release.

Moreover, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki's statement about the Yen weakening due in part to interest rate differentials sheds light on one of the factors influencing currency movements.

Leading a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven (G7) nations on October 12 gives Japan a platform to discuss critical issues like the war in Ukraine and the state of the world economy.

On the other side, a slew of dovish-leaning comments from Federal Reserve’s (Fed) policymakers, expressing concerns that higher long-term US Treasury yields could prevent their bias to raise rates in the forthcoming meetings.

Atlanta's Fed President Raphael Bostic said that the current monetary policy is already restrictive, more additional rate hikes are not required. The dovish interest rate trajectory was established by two fellow Fed colleagues on Monday, with Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari stated a similar statement on Tuesday.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) recovered from the intraday losses, trading around 105.80, by the press time. However, the 10-year US Treasury bond yield stands lower at 4.63% at the current press time.

Market participants will closely watch economic data, focusing on inflation figures. The Producer Price Index (PPI) is scheduled for Wednesday, followed by the release of the FOMC meeting minutes and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Thursday.