Northern star, a sign of USD/JPY getting tired?

The US Dollar rose to a peak of 114.69 against the Yen for the first time since November 2017, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield touching a fresh 5-month high of 1.68%. Higher long-term US yields increase the allure of the asset to Japanese investors. However, the two-year Treasury yield was up around 0.41% after retreating sharply overnight from Monday’s 19-month high of 0.45%.

The USD index, which measures the greenback against major currencies, including the Yen, was little changed at 93.73 after forming a double bottom at a low of 93.45 this month, gaining 0.17% below the minor resistance of 93.85. The outlook for the US economy is mixed after data showed that US housing construction unexpectedly fell in September and permits fell to a one-year low amid acute shortages of raw materials and labor, supporting expectations that economic growth slowed sharply in the third quarter. However, existing-home sales in September rose +7.0% m/m to an 8-month high of 6.29 million, stronger than expectations of 6.10 million. On the upside, US weekly initial jobless claims unexpectedly fell -6,000 to a 19-month low of 290,000, suggesting a stronger-than-expected labor market for an increase to 297,000.

The Yen strengthened on Thursday amid increasing safe-haven demand, after the JPN225 fell -1.67%. The Yen also found support on Thursday amid a report from Kyodo News that said Tokyo would lift its pandemic restrictions starting this Monday.

USD/JPY, daily

USDJPY is starting to look exhausted at the annual resistance area, below the 115.00 price level with the appearance of a daily doji candle pattern above 114.00. The RSI validates the rally momentum that is starting to fade at overbought levels, while the MACD takes more than one day of trading to validate a bearish signal. Overall, the uptrend has not shown any change, but the signs are already starting to be felt with the presence of 3 northern star candles. The pair is trading down 0.25% slightly below 114.00 at press time. A move to the downside will target 113.18 and a break of this level, the correction will target 112.05. On the upside, the price still has the potential to test the minor resistance at 114.20; 114.40 and recent peaks. Overall prices still look neutral towards the weekend.

EUR/USD flirts with daily highs, retargets 1.1900

EUR/USD regains upside traction, returning to the 1.1880 zone and refocusing its attention to the key 1.1900 barrier. The pair’s slight gains comes against the backdrop of a humble decline in the US Dollar as investors continue to assess the latest US CPI readings and the potential Fed’s rate path.

GBP/USD remains well bid around 1.3650

GBP/USD maintains its upside momentum in place, hovering around daily highs near 1.3650 and setting aside part of the recent three-day drop. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the Greenback’s irresolute price action, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborate with the uptick.

Gold clings to gains just above $5,000/oz

Gold is reclaiming part of the ground lost on Wednesday’s marked decline, as bargain-hunters keep piling up and lifting prices past the key $5,000 per troy ounce. The precious metal’s move higher is also underpinned by the slight pullback in the US Dollar and declining US Treasury yields across the curve.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP in choppy price action, weighed down by falling institutional interest

Bitcoin's upside remains largely constrained amid weak technicals and declining institutional interest. Ethereum trades sideways above $1,900 support with the upside capped below $2,000 amid ETF outflows.

Week ahead – Data blitz, Fed Minutes and RBNZ decision in the spotlight

US GDP and PCE inflation are main highlights, plus the Fed minutes. UK and Japan have busy calendars too with focus on CPI. Flash PMIs for February will also be doing the rounds. RBNZ meets, is unlikely to follow RBA’s hawkish path.

Ripple Price Forecast: XRP potential bottom could be in sight

Ripple edges up above the intraday low of $1.35 at the time of writing on Friday amid mixed price actions across the crypto market. The remittance token failed to hold support at $1.40 the previous day, reflecting risk-off sentiment amid a decline in retail and institutional sentiment.