EUR/JPY attracts some sellers to near 161.00, ECB rate decision in focus


  • EUR/JPY extends downside to around 161.05 in Thursday’s early European session, down 0.43% on the day. 
  • The ECB is expected to cut rates at its January meeting on Thursday.
  • Rising bets for more BoJ rate hikes lift the Japanese Yen and act as a headwind for EUR/JPY.

The EUR/JPY cross extends the decline to near 161.05 during the early European session on Thursday. The rising expectation that the European Central Bank (ECB) is set to kick off its 2025 meetings with another interest rate cut on Thursday continues to undermine the Euro (EUR) against the Japanese Yen (JPY). Also, the preliminary reading of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the Eurozone for the fourth quarter will be released later in the day. 

The ECB is widely anticipated to cut its key interest rate by another 25 basis points (bps) to 2.75% and continue its easing cycle amid an uncertain economic outlook and sticky service inflation. “We expect the ECB to cut by 25 basis points at each of the four governing council meetings in the first half of the year, lowering the policy rate to 2.00% by mid-year,” noted Mark Wall, chief economist at Deutsche Bank. 

Furthermore, the cautious sentiment and the rising speculation that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) will further raise the interest rates provide some support to the JPY and create a headwind for the cross. On Tuesday, former BoJ board member Makoto Sakurai said that broadening wage hikes, prospects of sustained price rises, and solid economic growth give the BoJ scope to continue raising rates steadily.

ECB FAQs

The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy for the region. The ECB primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means keeping inflation at around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is by raising or lowering interest rates. Relatively high interest rates will usually result in a stronger Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.

In extreme situations, the European Central Bank can enact a policy tool called Quantitative Easing. QE is the process by which the ECB prints Euros and uses them to buy assets – usually government or corporate bonds – from banks and other financial institutions. QE usually results in a weaker Euro. QE is a last resort when simply lowering interest rates is unlikely to achieve the objective of price stability. The ECB used it during the Great Financial Crisis in 2009-11, in 2015 when inflation remained stubbornly low, as well as during the covid pandemic.

Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse of QE. It is undertaken after QE when an economic recovery is underway and inflation starts rising. Whilst in QE the European Central Bank (ECB) purchases government and corporate bonds from financial institutions to provide them with liquidity, in QT the ECB stops buying more bonds, and stops reinvesting the principal maturing on the bonds it already holds. It is usually positive (or bullish) for the Euro.

 

Share: Feed news

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

GBP/USD holds above 1.2600 after strong UK inflation data

GBP/USD holds above 1.2600 after strong UK inflation data

GBP/USD holds steady above 1.2600 in the European morning on Wednesday after the data from the UK showed that the annual CPI inflation climbed to 3% in January from 2.5% in December. Market focus shifts to mid-tier US data and FOMC Minutes.

GBP/USD News
EUR/USD holds positive ground near 1.0450, FOMC Minutes in focus

EUR/USD holds positive ground near 1.0450, FOMC Minutes in focus

The EUR/USD pair posts modest gains to around 1.0450 during the Asian trading hours on Wednesday, bolstered by the weakening of the US Dollar. However, tariff concerns and tense Russia-Ukraine negotiations might boost the Greenback and cap the upside for the major pair. 

EUR/USD News
Gold price recovers early lost ground; holds steady near record high amid trade war fears

Gold price recovers early lost ground; holds steady near record high amid trade war fears

Gold price attracts some dip-buying as trade war fears continue to underpin safe-haven assets. Fed rate cut bets keep the USD bulls on the defensive and further lend support to the XAU/USD. A positive risk tone might cap the commodity as traders await the release of the FOMC minutes. 

Gold News
Maker Price Forecast: MKR generates highest daily revenue of $10 million

Maker Price Forecast: MKR generates highest daily revenue of $10 million

Maker (MKR) price extends its gains by 6%, trading around $1,189 on Wednesday after rallying more than 20% so far this week. Artemis data shows that MKR generated $10 million in revenue on February 10, the new yearly high in daily revenue.

Read more
Rates down under

Rates down under

Today all Australian eyes were on the Reserve Bank of Australia, and rates were cut as expected. RBA Michele Bullock said higher interest rates had been working as expected, slowing economic activity and curbing inflation, but warned that Tuesday’s first rate cut since 2020 was not the start of a series of reductions.

Read more
The Best Brokers of the Year

The Best Brokers of the Year

SPONSORED Explore top-quality choices worldwide and locally. Compare key features like spreads, leverage, and platforms. Find the right broker for your needs, whether trading CFDs, Forex pairs like EUR/USD, or commodities like Gold.

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures

Best Brokers of 2025