When is the BOJ rate decision and how could it affect USD/JPY?

Early on Friday, around 03:00 AM GMT, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will provide the decision of its routine monetary policy meeting. Following the rate decision, BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda will attend the press conference, around 06:00 AM GMT, to convey the logic behind the latest policy moves.

The Japanese central bank is widely expected to keep the short-term interest rate target at -0.1% while directing 10-year Japanese Government Bond (JGB) yields toward zero.

It should, however, be noted that the key central bankers’ concerns over tapering of bond purchases and chatters surrounding the need for extended policy support, due to the virus-led emergency, highlight Governor Haruhiko Kuroda’s speech as the key event.

Ahead of the event, TD Securities said,

While recent BoJ comments continue to highlight that they will not hesitate to ease monetary policy if needed, BoJ is unlikely to change its policy settings at its policy meeting, which should come as no surprise. The BoJ's ETF buying has taken a big step back already, with the Bank not purchasing any ETFs over May after it removed guidance for annual ETF purchases in March. The main question is whether BoJ extends its COVID aid for businesses past the current expiration date of September, with a high probability of such an announcement at this meeting.

How could it affect the USD/JPY?

USD/JPY refreshes intraday low to 110.15, down 0.03% on a day, amid US dollar pullback during the early Asian session on Friday. In doing so, the Yen pair extends the previous day’s U-turn from April tops.     

The market sentiment struggles for a clear direction and the US Treasury yields are indecisive after Thursday’s slump. Hence, today’s BOJ meeting is unlikely to offer any key moves to the USD/JPY prices unless offering a major relief to citizens over the covid-led emergency that ended in most prefectures except for Tokyo yesterday. It should, however, be noted that the Japanese central bank may highlight the weaker inflation expectations at home and abroad to keep the easy money flowing, which in turn may prove the USD/JPY sellers. Though, the Treasury yields’ moves are more important and could be decisive to watch for near-term direction.

Technically, a five-week-old ascending trend channel keeps USD/JPY buyers hopeful between 110.80 and 109.60 wherein the upper boundary gains strength from April’s high. Also acting as the upside barrier is March’s low near 111.00. Meanwhile, the mid-March top surrounding 109.40 and the monthly bottom close to 109.20 offer extra filters to the south.

Key Notes

USD/JPY edges lower above 110.00 amid steady US Treasury yields ahead of BOJ 

USD/JPY Forecast: Falling yields weigh on the pair

BoJ policy meeting could leave yen languishing

About BoJ Rate Decision

BoJ Interest Rate Decision is announced by the Bank of Japan. Generally, if the BoJ is hawkish about the inflationary outlook of the economy and rises the interest rates it is positive, or bullish, for the JPY. Likewise, if the BoJ has a dovish view on the Japanese economy and keeps the ongoing interest rate, or cuts the interest rate it is negative, or bearish.