USD/JPY: Neutral view amidst global banking turmoil – Morgan Stanley

Dhwani Mehta FXStreet

Analysts at Morgan Stanley shift their view on the USD/JPY pair to neutral from their previous long recommendation.

Key quotes

"We turn neutral for JPY against USD on the back of the recent global financial stability concerns.”

“Repricing of overseas central banks' policy path led to broad JPY strength via the policy convergence channel.“

“While the BoJ continues to be patient to see wage-driven inflation, we see limited room for the market to reprice the Fed policy path higher in the near term.”

"With the risk of the market pricing in further policy convergence, we close our long USD/JPY position and turn neutral until things become much clearer."

Author

Dhwani Mehta

FXStreet

Residing in Mumbai (India), Dhwani is a Senior Analyst and Manager of the Asian session at FXStreet. She has over 10 years of experience in analyzing and covering the global financial markets, with specialization in Forex and commodities markets.

AUD/USD remains depressed near 0.6950 after RBA minutes

AUD/USD attracts follow-through selling during Tuesday’s Asian session, looking to extend the overnight rejection slide from 0.7000, or a two-week top, following the release of RBA meeting Minutes. The US Dollar retains a bullish undertone near its highest level since April 2025 as energy-driven inflation risks keep December Fed rate hike bets firmly on the table. Adding to this, geopolitical risks further underpin the safe-haven USD.

USD/JPY extends retreat below 158.50 as intervention risks loom

USD/JPY is dropping below 158.50 in the Asian session on Tuesday, snapping a two-day winning streak and pulling back from an over two-week top touched the previous day, despite Japan's soft PPI inflation print. Bulls turn cautious amid speculation that authorities will step in to prop up the Japanese Yen, which, in turn, weighs on the pair.

Gold struggles above $4.150 amid geopolitical escalation

Gold struggles above $4,150 in the Asian session on Tuesday as elevated US Treasury yields and a hawkish Fed keep the US Dollar near its highest level since April 2025. Adding to this, persistent geopolitical uncertainties stemming from Middle East conflicts continue to underpin the safe-haven buck, which, in turn, is seen as weighing on the bullion. Traders now look to US inflation figures for some impetus ahead of Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's appearance on Friday.

Fed hold remains base case, September inflation surprise could push Dollar

The FOMC minutes read as hawkish last week, but they predate the soft September payrolls print and the modest inflation reads since then. We continue to think the Fed will hold rates this month, since we expect a moderate (i.e. 0.2% or less) monthly core print in this week's inflation report for September.

Earnings preview US and Europe: Can the stock market rally continue?

Stocks have been remarkably resilient this year. They have navigated geopolitical turmoil, an energy price spike and surging global bond yields which is rapidly pushing up the cost of borrowing. US blue chip stocks are now in their 4th year of a bull market, however, they now face their toughest test of Q4 so far, the latest earnings updates.

Has Bitcoin really escaped the macro forces it was built to fight?

Over 17 years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto designed Bitcoin (BTC) on the back of a global financial crisis as an alternative to the global monetary system outside the control of central banks, governments and traditional intermediaries. This raises a key question: has Bitcoin really become independent of the macroeconomic forces it was built to challenge?