GBP/JPY slumps to near 199.50 as Japanese Yen outperforms across the board
- GBP/JPY falls sharply to near 199.50 as the safe-haven demand of the Japanese Yen has increased.
- Investors await the BoJ’s Summary of Opinions release on Tuesday.
- BoE’s Dhingra supports quick interest rate cuts to support job demand.
The GBP/JPY pair trades 0.4% down to near 199.50 during the European trading session on Monday. The pair falls sharply as weakness in the US Dollar (USD) due to mounting United States (US) government shutdown risks has increased the safe-haven appeal of the Japanese Yen (JPY).
Japanese Yen Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of Japanese Yen (JPY) against listed major currencies today. Japanese Yen was the strongest against the Euro.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.13% | -0.26% | -0.54% | -0.07% | -0.23% | 0.07% | -0.03% | |
| EUR | 0.13% | -0.13% | -0.56% | 0.06% | -0.09% | 0.20% | 0.09% | |
| GBP | 0.26% | 0.13% | -0.34% | 0.19% | -0.02% | 0.33% | 0.21% | |
| JPY | 0.54% | 0.56% | 0.34% | 0.49% | 0.34% | 0.48% | 0.54% | |
| CAD | 0.07% | -0.06% | -0.19% | -0.49% | -0.12% | 0.14% | 0.03% | |
| AUD | 0.23% | 0.09% | 0.02% | -0.34% | 0.12% | 0.29% | 0.19% | |
| NZD | -0.07% | -0.20% | -0.33% | -0.48% | -0.14% | -0.29% | 0.04% | |
| CHF | 0.03% | -0.09% | -0.21% | -0.54% | -0.03% | -0.19% | -0.04% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Japanese Yen from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent JPY (base)/USD (quote).
This week, the major trigger for the Japanese Yen will be the Bank of Japan (BoJ) Summary of Opinions (SOP), which will be published on Tuesday.
In the policy meeting this month, the BoJ held interest rates steady at 0.5%, as expected, and kept the door open for more interest rate hikes in the near term.
On the political front, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is scheduled to elect a new leader to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on October 4.
In the United Kingdom (UK), traders remain increasingly confident that the Bank of England (BoE) will cut interest rates in the November policy meeting as price pressures are proving to be persistent. Last week, BoE Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member Megan Greene warned of inflation risks and expressed confidence that the economy will rebound.
On the contrary, BoE MPC member Swati Dhingra wrote in a column published by The Times on Friday that inflation risks will fade and there is need for quick interest rate cuts to support deteriorating labor market conditions.
Pound Sterling FAQs
The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, also known as ‘Cable’, which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the ‘Dragon’ as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE).
The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of “price stability” – a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall.
Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
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