USD/JPY – Yen Steady Ahead of Federal Reserve, BoJ Rate Statements

USD/JPY has edged lower in the Wednesday session, erasing small gains recorded on Tuesday. Currently, the pair is trading at 111.29, down 0.26%. On the release front, central banks will be in focus, as the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan publish rate statements. The US also releases Existing Home Sales, which is expected to improve to 5.46 million. On Thursday, the US will release unemployment claims and the Philly Fed Manufacturing Index.

There is growing speculation that the Japanese government may call a snap election on Monday, with the vote to be held on October 22. Abe has seen his ratings improve over the North Korean crisis and with a weak opposition, he is gambling that the move will pay big dividends. The Japanese economy has improved in 2017, as stronger global demand has boosted the manufacturing and export sectors. However, the country’s radical stimulus program, known as ‘Abenomics’, has failed to push inflation levels anywhere near the BoJ’s target of just below 2.0%. The Bank of Japan releases a rate statement later on Wednesday, and a hawkish message from the BoJ could send the yen to higher ground.

All eyes will be on the Federal Reserve, as the central bank releases its September rate statement. The FOMC is expected to hold the benchmark rate at 1.25%, so analysts will be looking for details about the the Fed balance sheet and a possible rate hike in December. Earlier in the year, the Fed outlined plans to begin reducing its bloated balance sheet of $4.2 trillion, and the markets are expecting more details, such as a start date for the tapering. The Fed is expected to reduce the balance sheet by not replacing some maturing bonds, starting at $10 billion/month, and gradually moving higher. This move can be viewed as a mini-rate hike, and could provide a boost for the US dollar against major rivals. However, if the Fed does not address its balance sheet, the markets could get nervous and the US dollar could lose ground. As for inflation, persistently low levels remains well below the Fed target of 2% and this has hampered plans for a third rate hike in 2017. Janet Yellen has not discussed a December move, but in recent weeks, some FOMC members have come out against another rate hike before inflation moves higher, even if this means waiting until 2018. If the rate statement addresses the timing of another rate hike, we could see substantial movement from the US dollar.

USD/JPY Fundamentals

Tuesday (September 19)

• 19:50 Japanese Trade Balance. Estimate 0.41T. Actual 0.37T

Wednesday (September 20)

• 10:00 US Existing Home Sales. Estimate 5.46M
• 14:00 US FOMC Economic Projections
• 14:00 US FOMC Statement
• 14:00 US Federal Funds Rate. Estimate <1.25%
• 14:30 US FOMC Press Conference
• Tentative – BoJ Policy Rate. Estimate -0.10%
• Tentative – BoJ Monetary Policy Statement

Thursday (September 21)

• 8:30 US Unemployment Claims
• 8:30 US Philly Fed Manufacturing Index. Estimate 17.3

*All release times are GMT

*Key events are in bold

USD/JPY for Wednesday, September 20, 2017

USD/JPY September 20 at 6:15 EDT

Open: 111.59 High: 111.65 Low: 111.28 Close: 111.29

USD/JPY Technical

USD/JPY has inched lower in the Asian and European sessions

• 110.94 is a weak support line
• 112.57 is the next resistance line

Current range: 110.94 to 112.57

Further levels in both directions:

• Below: 110.94, 110.10, 108.69 and 107.49
• Above: 112.57, 113.55 and 114.49

OANDA’s Open Positions Ratios

USD/JPY ratio is unchanged this week. Currently, long positions have a majority (59%), indicative of trader bias towards USD/JPY reversing directions and moving to higher ground.

This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.