USD/JPY Price Analysis: Tests resistance at 149.50 near nine-day EMA

USD/JPY could aim for initial support at the five-month low of 148.10.
The pair continues to decline within a descending channel, reinforcing a confirmed bearish bias.
The nine-day EMA at 149.75 serves as an immediate resistance level.

Akhtar Faruqui FXStreet

USD/JPY gains ground after registering losses in the previous two successive days, trading around 149.40 during the European session on Wednesday. An analysis of the daily chart showed the USD/JPY pair moves downward within a descending channel, indicating a confirmed bearish bias.

The USD/JPY pair remains below the nine-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), indicating a weaker short-term price momentum. Additionally, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum indicator, is positioned above the 30 level, reinforcing the persistent bearish bias.

In terms of support, the USD/JPY pair could target the five-month low at 148.10, recorded on March 4, followed by the psychological level of 148.00. A successful breach below this crucial support zone could reinforce the bearish bias and put pressure on the pair to test the lower boundary of the descending channel at the level of 146.70

On the upside, the USD/JPY pair could first encounter the nine-day EMA barrier at 149.75. A break above this level could improve the short-term price momentum and support the pair to approach the descending channel’s upper boundary at the 152.00 level.

USD/JPY: Daily Chart

Japanese Yen FAQs

What key factors drive the Japanese Yen?

The Japanese Yen (JPY) is one of the world’s most traded currencies. Its value is broadly determined by the performance of the Japanese economy, but more specifically by the Bank of Japan’s policy, the differential between Japanese and US bond yields, or risk sentiment among traders, among other factors.

How do the decisions of the Bank of Japan impact the Japanese Yen?

One of the Bank of Japan’s mandates is currency control, so its moves are key for the Yen. The BoJ has directly intervened in currency markets sometimes, generally to lower the value of the Yen, although it refrains from doing it often due to political concerns of its main trading partners. The BoJ ultra-loose monetary policy between 2013 and 2024 caused the Yen to depreciate against its main currency peers due to an increasing policy divergence between the Bank of Japan and other main central banks. More recently, the gradually unwinding of this ultra-loose policy has given some support to the Yen.

How does the differential between Japanese and US bond yields impact the Japanese Yen?

Over the last decade, the BoJ’s stance of sticking to ultra-loose monetary policy has led to a widening policy divergence with other central banks, particularly with the US Federal Reserve. This supported a widening of the differential between the 10-year US and Japanese bonds, which favored the US Dollar against the Japanese Yen. The BoJ decision in 2024 to gradually abandon the ultra-loose policy, coupled with interest-rate cuts in other major central banks, is narrowing this differential.

How does broader risk sentiment impact the Japanese Yen?

The Japanese Yen is often seen as a safe-haven investment. This means that in times of market stress, investors are more likely to put their money in the Japanese currency due to its supposed reliability and stability. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen the Yen’s value against other currencies seen as more risky to invest in.

Author

Akhtar Faruqui

FXStreet

Akhtar Faruqui is a Forex Analyst based in New Delhi, India. With a keen eye for market trends and a passion for dissecting complex financial dynamics, he is dedicated to delivering accurate and insightful Forex news and analysis.

AUD/USD pulls back from monthly high but holds above 0.7000

AUD/USD retreats from the monthly high set earlier this Thursday, sliding back to 0.7000 during the Asian session as a further escalation of tensions in the Middle East undermines the risk-sensitive Aussie. However, recent hawkish comments from RBA officials could support the Australian Dollar. Furthermore, the prevailing US Dollar selling bias, despite Fed hike bets and geopolitical uncertainties, could limit losses for the pair.

USD/JPY declines to a one-week low; eyes trading range support near 157.50 on weaker USD

USD/JPY drops to a one-week low during Thursday’s Asian session, with bears now awaiting a break below multi-week range support near mid-157.00s before placing fresh bets amid a broadly weaker US Dollar. Despite bets for a December Fed rate hike and Middle East jitters, the recent decline in US bond yields keeps USD depressed near a three-week low. Moreover, hawkish BoJ expectations and intervention risks underpin the Japanese Yen, further weighing on the currency pair.

Gold bounces off monthly low as USD selling remains unabated amid falling bond yields

Gold pares heavy intraday losses to the monthly trough, though it retains an intraday bearish tone below $4,100 during Thursday’s early European session. The US Dollar selling bias remains unabated as Federal Reserve officials recently signaled there is no urgency to raise interest rates at the upcoming October 27–28 meeting. Furthermore, US bond yields extend their retracement slide from multi-year highs, keeping USD bulls on the back foot and offering some support to the precious metal.

Dogecoin stays weak despite whales and new deal

Dogecoin price remains under pressure, trading below $0.081 despite a modest rebound earlier this week. Santiment data shows signs of accumulation, and Wednesday’s announcement of a Dogecoin Labs partnership with the Dogecoin Foundation adds a mildly bullish sentiment. Meanwhile, mixed derivatives metrics and weakening momentum indicators continue to limit the meme coin recovery.

Dow Jones Industrial Average climbs with the AI trade, led by a bank

The Dow Jones Industrial Average got most of its share of Wednesday's artificial intelligence (AI) rally from a bank and a bulldozer maker. The index closed near 52,800, its highest close since early September. SpaceX (SPCX) reported 161% revenue growth and the Nasdaq Composite rose more than 1%, but under price weighting the gains that counted most belonged to Goldman Sachs (GS) and Caterpillar (CAT).

The US Dollar fell. Gold didn't rally. That tells you everything

Gold (XAU/USD) is struggling to capitalize on a weaker US Dollar (USD), after repeatedly failing to establish itself above the $4,200 level. The precious metal remains confined to a relatively narrow trading range despite a combination of developments that would normally support higher prices.