USD/JPY: Risks are tilted to the downside for forecast of 145.00 by end-Q2 – Standard Chartered

FXStreet Insights Team FXStreet

Economists at Standard Chartered expect the Bank of Japan (BoJ) to end its negative interest rate policy (NIRP) in March rather than April, alongside a de facto removal of yield curve control (YCC). They analyze the implications for the Japanese Yen (JPY).

Potential end to YCC accompanied by a greater tolerance for higher long-end yields should be JPY-positive

While the JPY has rallied and markets are already pricing in 6 bps of hikes by April, we think the BoJ could surprise with an earlier move in March. Even if the BoJ does not hike in March, the market would expect it to hike in April; market reaction should therefore be limited either way.

The removal of NIRP will not reverse negative yield differentials with other DMs, given that the anticipated policy adjustment in March is unlikely to signal the start of an aggressive rate hiking cycle by the BoJ. Nevertheless, a potential end to YCC accompanied by a greater tolerance by the BoJ for higher long-end yields should ultimately be JPY-positive, especially if our expectation for the Fed and ECB to start cutting rates from June pans out.

In that vein, risks are tilted to the downside for our USD/JPY forecast of 145.00 by the end of Q2-2024.

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

FXStreet

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

GBP/USD hits multi-week tops around 1.3560

GBP/USD gathers fresh steam and advances to new three-month peaks near the 1.3560 zone on Friday. Cable’s sharp move higher comes after three daily drops in a row and follows the increasing selling pressure hurting the Greenback.

EUR/USD pops to fresh two-month highs, targets 1.1600

EUR/USD advances markedly, revisiting the upper 1.1500s for the first time since mid-June. The pair’s sharp uptick comes on the back of a strong retracement in the US Dollar amid BoJ intervention chatter and despite steady uncertainty in the Middle East.

Gold picks up pace, approaches $4,400

Gold rebounds toward the $4,400 mark per troy ounce on Friday, reversing the previous day’s pullback. The precious metal’s recovery comes as fresh and intense weakness keep weighing on the US Dollar, while traders keep assessing easing expectations of an imminent Fed interest rate hike and the situation from the Middle East.

Pi Network Price Forecast: PI extends consolidation as bulls eye $0.10

Pi Network (PI) price holds steady on Friday, maintaining a consolidating tone for three consecutive days. Mild retail strength in the PI token remains stable, with Open Interest above $9 million, while social buzz eases. PI token’s technical outlook is mixed, as bearish momentum wanes to neutral, with bulls eyeing the $0.1000 psychological level.

Weekly focus: Some relief in US inflation concerns

Actual inflation data for July came out as expected with a 0.1% m/m increase in headline CPI and 0.2% excluding food and energy. Annual headline inflation remains too high at 3.4% and means that wage earners are experiencing stagnating spending power at best, and core inflation is a bit higher than the inflation target of two percent would suggest.

Why is Crude Oil priced for a reopening the ships haven't made?

Fourteen vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. Before the war, the count ran near 120 a day. In the sessions since the waterway was publicly declared open, Brent has drifted back to $87 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) to $81, both a little lower again on Wednesday, with daily momentum on each unwound from the top of its range in late July to the low twenties now.