- GBP/JPY marches higher as markets eat away at “Yentervention” territory.
- UK labor figures worsened, but not as badly as expected.
- Japanese GDP growth due on Thursday.
GBP/JPY rose further on Tuesday, clipping into the 197.00 handle as the broader FX market continues to sell the Japanese Yen (JPY) across the board. UK labor figures wobbled on Tuesday, but investors skirted the worst of it after unemployment benefits claims rose less than expected and wages grew at a healthy pace.
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is broadly believed to have stepped into global markets on two separate occasions in recent weeks after the Japanese central bank’s activities reports revealed the BoJ overspent on miscellaneous financial operations by around nine billion Yen. However, the Yen’s aggressive recovery is proving to be short-lived. The GBP/JPY ground its way back to the 197.00 handle, recovering from the recent low near 191.50.
The UK’s ILO Unemployment Rate ticked higher to 4.3% over the three months ended March, matching market forecasts and rising from the previous period’s 4.2%. Average UK Earnings Including Bonuses rose 5.7% for the three-month period ending in March compared to the same time last year. Net employment change in the UK for the quarter ended in March fell, shedding -177K jobs compared to the previous period’s -157K, knocking the GBP briefly back.
Markets have broadly recovered on Tuesday, and Yen pairs will be looking ahead to early Thursday’s Japanese Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the first quarter. Japanese Q1 GDP is expected to contract -0.4% versus the previous quarter’s slim growth of 0.1%.
GBP/JPY technical outlook
The Guppy continues to trade north of the 200-hour Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 194.95 as the Sterling accelerates gains against the Yen. The pair recovered back into the 1.97.00 handle for the first time since the start of the month, but the pair remains down 1.8% from the multi-decade peak reached at 200.60 in late April.
GBP/JPY hourly chart
GBP/JPY daily chart
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
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD stays near 1.0400 in thin holiday trading
EUR/USD trades with mild losses near 1.0400 on Tuesday. The expectation that the US Federal Reserve will deliver fewer rate cuts in 2025 provides some support for the US Dollar. Trading volumes are likely to remain low heading into the Christmas break.
GBP/USD struggles to find direction, holds steady near 1.2550
GBP/USD consolidates in a range at around 1.2550 on Tuesday after closing in negative territory on Monday. The US Dollar preserves its strength and makes it difficult for the pair to gain traction as trading conditions thin out on Christmas Eve.
Gold holds above $2,600, bulls non-committed on hawkish Fed outlook
Gold trades in a narrow channel above $2,600 on Tuesday, albeit lacking strong follow-through buying. Geopolitical tensions and trade war fears lend support to the safe-haven XAU/USD, while the Fed’s hawkish shift acts as a tailwind for the USD and caps the precious metal.
IRS says crypto staking should be taxed in response to lawsuit
In a filing on Monday, the US International Revenue Service stated that the rewards gotten from staking cryptocurrencies should be taxed, responding to a lawsuit from couple Joshua and Jessica Jarrett.
2025 outlook: What is next for developed economies and currencies?
As the door closes in 2024, and while the year feels like it has passed in the blink of an eye, a lot has happened. If I had to summarise it all in four words, it would be: ‘a year of surprises’.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.