GBP/JPY returns above 214.00 with BoE’s decision looming

• GBP/JPY returns beyond 214.00, drawing closer to the 16-year high, at 215.00.
• The BoE decision, due later on Thursday, is likely to set the Pound's direction.
• The Yen remains on its back foot ahead of Japan's snap elections.

The Pound has retraced previous losses and is trading higher against an ailing Japanese Yen in Thursday’s early London session. Bulls have pushed the pair back above 214.00 at the time of writing, on track to a five-day rally and with the 16-year high, at 215.00 coming closer.

Investors, however, are likely to remain cautious ahead of the Bank of England’s (BoE) monetary policy decision, due later on Thursday.

The bank is widely expected to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75% as inflation remains stubbornly high and economic growth shows signs of improvement. The voting split is expected to show two dissenters calling for a quarter-point rate cut; anything below that will be seen as hawkish and is likely to boost the Pound across the board.

The Yen, on the other hand, remains vulnerable with investors holding their breath ahead of next weekend's snap elections. Markets are wary that Prime Minister Takaichi might obtain a stronger parliamentary support to extend her expansive policies and boost an already high fiscal deficit.

A newspaper report released earlier this week revealed that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) might get as many as 300 of the 450 seats in the lower house, a landslide victory that would allow the Prime Minister to rule without a coalition, the most feared scenario for the market.

Earlier on Thursday, a 30-year Japanese Government Bond (JGB) auction closed with stronger demand than usual, which calmed markets and provided some support to the Yen. The yield of the 30-year note eased to 3.5% from all-time highs at 3.65%, and the 20-year yield eased to 3.13% from highs near 3.20% before the auction.