USD/JPY

With a host of inflation data from Europe and GDP data for the US, implied volatility has picked up to wake markets up from their post-Thanksgiving lull. Today we take a look at USD/JPY and EUR/USD for a potential setup.

With USD/CNH and USD/JPY probing key support levels, we may require a break of them for AUD/USD to stand a chance of continuing its strong rally (which met strong resistance on Tuesday). Unless of course Australia is treated to an uncomfortably hot inflation report today, which could fan fears of another RBA hike.

When yen bulls increase their long exposure by 40% in a week, it is probably worth noting. Especially when large speculators had pushed net-short exposure to a 6-year high the week prior. Every turning point must start somewhere, and I continue to suspect this turning point already has.

After a near 15% rally in under a month, the high-flying Nasdaq 100 looks tired on the charts, struggling to add to gains despite a continued pullback in US bond yields. In contrast, USD/JPY gives the impression it’s only starting the process of adjusting to the more placid US yield environment.

A sharp reversal on USD/JPY last week brings a potential break above 150 in to focus, assuming the US dollar can find a bid and USD/CNH continues to hold above its 200-day MA. Meanwhile, crude oil has handed back all of its 2023 gains and it is a very fine line before the bias for a move to $80 becomes invalidated.

DAX slips as German recession worries rise. USD/JPY falls as Japanese CPI rises and ahead of US PMIs.

We watched with bated breath to see if USD/CNH would break its 200-day average on Tuesday and pave the way for the next bout of US dollar weakness. Yet with that key level holding as support, it leaves room for some US dollar strength, a higher USD/JPY and weaker AUD/USD.

GBP/USD rises ahead of tomorrow’s Autumn budget. USD/JPY falls ahead of FOMC minutes.

Once again, the 1-day implied volatility levels for EUR/USD and USD/JPY have blown out ahead of a busy calendar. Central bank members from the Fed, ECB, BOE and SNB will hit the wires, European GDP is also on tap ahead of the key US inflation report.

With the decline in the inflation rate seemingly stalling, a higher-than-expected inflation reading is likely to be more impactful to markets.

Crude oil falls as demand concerns weigh. USD/JPY rises to a yearly high.

USD/JPY is trading 40 pips away from multi-decade highs as upstream inflationary pressures in Japan are coming off hard. Perhaps that explains we've had no verbal intervention attempts from the government today?

GBP/USD struggles as UK GDP stalls. USD/JPY grinds higher after a hawkish Fed Chair Powell.

EUR/USD holds above 1.07 ahead of ECB Lagarde & Powell’s speech. USD/JPY is on intervention watch ahead of Fed Chair Powell & jobless claims.

If the BOJ were going to intervene, it could be argued they'd have done it already. But that doesn't mean the market can't do some of the work for them by sending USD/JPY lower from key resistance levels. And if the US dollar pulls back as I suspect, it places USD/JPY short onto the watchlist.

If you believe the Fed is done hiking rates and will be forced to ease policy aggressively next year, it’s hard to be bullish USD/JPY or the Nikkei 225 given the role yield differentials and FX fluctuations have played in underpinning both this year.

The DAX may have broken the 15k level, but it remains within a bearish channel and resistance zone on the daily timeframe – so I’m looking out for a potential swing high once its current rally has petered out. USD/JPY has found intraday support around a cluster of technical levels, which paints a near-term bullish bias.