Japanese Yen depreciates as US Dollar advances on easing bets of a larger rate cut
- The downside of the Japanese Yen could be restrained by safe-haven flows amid Middle East tensions.
- Japan's parliament will hold a special session to discuss the BoJ’s last interest rate hike.
- CME’s FedWatch Tool suggests odds of a 50 basis points cut by the Fed in September have dropped to 50%.
The Japanese Yen (JPY) extends its losses against the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday. The safe-haven flows might limit the downside for the Yen, which could be attributed to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Japan's parliament is scheduled to hold a special session on August 23 to discuss the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) decision to raise interest rates last month. The session, organized by the lower house financial affairs committee, is expected to invite BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda to attend, according to government sources cited by Reuters.
The USD/JPY pair receives support as the pressure on the US Dollar eases due to decreased expectations for a 50 basis point interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) in September. According to CME’s FedWatch Tool, the probability of 50 basis points (bps) cut in September has dropped to 50%, down from 85% last week. However, the rate markets continue to price in a 100% chance of at least a 25 bps cut at the upcoming meeting.
Daily Digest Market Movers: Japanese Yen declines as odds of a 50 bps Fed rate cut diminish
- On Sunday, Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman stated that she continues to see upside risks for inflation and ongoing strength in the labor market. Bowman suggested that the Federal Reserve may not be prepared to cut rates at its next meeting in September, according to Bloomberg.
- As per a Bloomberg report last week, JP Morgan Asset Management (JPAM) believes the Bank of Japan is unlikely to raise interest rates in the near term. According to JPAM, the BoJ may only consider further rate hikes if the Federal Reserve cuts rates and the US economy stabilizes. They anticipate that any additional tightening by the BoJ is more likely to occur in 2025, provided the global economic environment remains stable.
- The Bank of Japan’s Summary of Opinions from the Monetary Policy Meeting on July 30 and 31 indicated that several members believe economic activity and prices are evolving as expected by the BoJ. They are aiming for a neutral rate of "at least around 1%" as a medium-term target.
- Last week, BoJ Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida also noted that BoJ's interest rate strategy will adapt if market volatility alters economic forecasts, risk assessments, or projections. Given recent market volatility, he emphasized the need for careful monitoring of the economic and price impacts of their policies, stating, “We must maintain the current degree of monetary easing for the time being.”
- The minutes from the Bank of Japan's June meeting indicated that some members voiced concerns about rising import prices due to the recent decline in the JPY, which could present an upside risk to inflation. One member highlighted that cost-push inflation might exacerbate underlying inflation if it leads to increased inflation expectations and wage hikes.
Technical Analysis: USD/JPY tests 147.50; next barrier at nine-day EMA
USD/JPY trades around 147.40 on Tuesday. The daily chart analysis shows that the pair remains below the nine-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), suggesting a bearish trend in the short term. Moreover, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) has breached above the 30 level, suggesting a potential for a correction. If the RSI moves toward the 50 level, it could signal a potential improvement in the pair's momentum.
For support levels, the USD/JPY pair may test a seven-month low at 141.69, recorded on August 5, followed by the throwback support at 140.25.
On the upside, the USD/JPY pair could test the immediate barrier at the nine-day EMA around the 147.72 level. A breakout above this level could diminish bearish momentum and allow the pair to approach the 5-day EMA at 153.68, followed by the "throwback support turned resistance" at 154.50.
USD/JPY: Daily Chart
Japanese Yen PRICE Today
The table below shows the percentage change of Japanese Yen (JPY) against listed major currencies today. Japanese Yen was the weakest against the New Zealand Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.06% | -0.06% | 0.12% | -0.04% | -0.10% | 0.24% | 0.04% | |
| EUR | 0.06% | -0.01% | 0.18% | -0.02% | -0.06% | -0.21% | 0.10% | |
| GBP | 0.06% | 0.00% | 0.19% | 0.01% | -0.05% | -0.18% | 0.14% | |
| JPY | -0.12% | -0.18% | -0.19% | -0.20% | -0.22% | -0.38% | -0.07% | |
| CAD | 0.04% | 0.02% | -0.01% | 0.20% | -0.06% | -0.21% | 0.11% | |
| AUD | 0.10% | 0.06% | 0.05% | 0.22% | 0.06% | -0.12% | 0.19% | |
| NZD | -0.24% | 0.21% | 0.18% | 0.38% | 0.21% | 0.12% | 0.32% | |
| CHF | -0.04% | -0.10% | -0.14% | 0.07% | -0.11% | -0.19% | -0.32% |
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).
Interest rates FAQs
Interest rates are charged by financial institutions on loans to borrowers and are paid as interest to savers and depositors. They are influenced by base lending rates, which are set by central banks in response to changes in the economy. Central banks normally have a mandate to ensure price stability, which in most cases means targeting a core inflation rate of around 2%. If inflation falls below target the central bank may cut base lending rates, with a view to stimulating lending and boosting the economy. If inflation rises substantially above 2% it normally results in the central bank raising base lending rates in an attempt to lower inflation.
Higher interest rates generally help strengthen a country’s currency as they make it a more attractive place for global investors to park their money.
Higher interest rates overall weigh on the price of Gold because they increase the opportunity cost of holding Gold instead of investing in an interest-bearing asset or placing cash in the bank. If interest rates are high that usually pushes up the price of the US Dollar (USD), and since Gold is priced in Dollars, this has the effect of lowering the price of Gold.
The Fed funds rate is the overnight rate at which US banks lend to each other. It is the oft-quoted headline rate set by the Federal Reserve at its FOMC meetings. It is set as a range, for example 4.75%-5.00%, though the upper limit (in that case 5.00%) is the quoted figure. Market expectations for future Fed funds rate are tracked by the CME FedWatch tool, which shapes how many financial markets behave in anticipation of future Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.
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