- GBP/JPY lacks any firm intraday direction on Monday and oscillates in a narrow trading band.
- Intervention fears, China's economic woes benefit the JPY and act as a headwind for the cross.
- The BoE’s surprise pause contributes to cap, though the BoJ’s dovish stance limits the downside.
The GBP/JPY cross struggles to gain any meaningful traction on Monday and seesaws between tepid gains/minor losses through the early part of the European session. Spot prices currently trade just above mid-181.00s and remain well within the striking distance of the lowest level since August 7 touched last Thursday.
Speculations that Japanese authorities will intervene in the foreign exchange market to support the domestic currency, along with persistent worries over China, benefit the safe-haven Japanese Yen (JPY) and act as a headwind for the GBP/JPY cross. In fact, Japan’s Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki issued a fresh warning against the recent JPY weakness and said last week that the government will not rule out any options in addressing excess volatility in currency markets.
The British Pound (GBP), on the other hand, continues with its relative underperformance in the wake of the Bank of England's (BoE) surprise pause last Thursday, which, in turn, is seen as another factor capping the upside for the GBP/JPY cross. The UK central bank ended a run of 14 straight interest rate hikes in the wake of the recent deceleration of inflation. That said, a more dovish stance adopted by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) limits any meaningful downside for spot prices.
The Japanese central bank refrained from offering any hints about potential alterations to its negative interest rate policy in the near future. In the post-meeting press conference, BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda noted that there is no change to the way of the policy decision-making process and that the central bank is yet to foresee inflation reaching the 2% target in a stable manner. This, in turn, suggests that the BoJ is more likely to maintain an ultra-loose monetary policy.
The aforementioned mixed fundamental backdrop, meanwhile, is holding back traders from placing aggressive bets and leads to a subdued range-bound price action around the GBP/JPY cross on Monday. Moreover, absent relevant market-moving economic releases further warrants some caution before positioning for a firm intraday direction.
Technical levels to watch
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.