Japanese Yen gets help from easing US data while Yen tries to start its recovery

The Japanese Yen slightly recovers from its multi-decade low of 160.87 against the US Dollar seen on Wednesday.
The Yen finds some support after comments from Japanese Finance Minister Shun’ichi Suzuki.
The US Dollar Index falls back below 106.00 ahead of US Q1 GDP, Durable Goods Orders and weekly Jobless Claims.

The Japanese Yen (JPY) is attempting to starts its recovery after its steep decline Wednesday when markets started playing a chicken game with the Japanese government. The Japanese Yen sank to 160.87 against the US Dollar (USD), even lower than the level of 160.20 seen at the end of April right before the Japanese Ministry of Finance intervened and pushed the USD/JPY back to 151.95. Early comments during the Asian session on Thursday from Japanese Finance Minister Shun’ichi Suzuki seemingly had more impact than the comments from Masato Kanda, Vice Minister for International Affairs, on Wednesday when the actual move occurred.

Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index (DXY) – which gauges the value of the US Dollar against a basket of six foreign currencies – is easing after the chunky US data release on Thursday made markets choke. Certainly the nearly flatlining US Durable Goods orders and the uptick in Wholesale Inventories is another sign on the wall the US consumer is not having it anymore. That could have ripple effect over the summer in employment data and economic performances, no longer support a US Dollar at current levels, but lower.

Daily digest market movers: US data helps out

At 01:30 GMT, Japanese Finance Minister Shun’ichi Suzuki commented on the recent moves in the Japanese Yen. Suzuki said they are watching currencies closely and will act when needed, though Suzuki declined to comment on specific FX levels.
Reuters cites severals banks which got consulted by the Bank of Japan during European hours, asked for their expectations over the range and pace of tapering. The survey will certainly be used in the upcoming meeting with the BoJ and bond market participants on July 9th and 10th.
At 12:30 GMT, nearly all important data points were released for this Thursday:
- US Gross Domestic Product for the third quarter:
  - Headline GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.4%, more than the 1.3% previously estimated.
  - GDP Price Index remained stable at 3.1%.
  - The Headline Personal Consumption Expenditure Price index went from 3.3% to 3.4%, while the core reading also ticked higher from 3.6% to 3.7%.
- US Durable Goods for May:
  - Headline Durable Goods orders fell flat to 0.1%, from a revised 0.6% to only 0.2%.
  - Durable Goods without Cars and Transportation missed estimates and fell lower from 0.4% to -0.1%.
- Weekly Jobless Claims for the week ending June 14th:
  - Initial Jobless Claims came in stronger, from 238,000 to 233,000..
  - Continuing Claims were an issue, as they jumped from 1,821,000 to 1,839,000.
Equities are trying to digest the US data release with US equities trying to salvage the situation and erasing earlier losses partially.
The CME Fedwatch Tool is broadly backing a rate cut in September despite recent comments from Federal Reserve (Fed) officials. The odds now stand at 56.3% for a 25-basis-point cut. A rate pause stands at a 37.7% chance, while a 50-basis-point rate cut has a slim 6.0% possibility.
The Overnight indexed Swap curve for Japan shows a 64.0% chance of a rate hike on July 31, and a smaller 52.8% chance for a hike on September 20.
The US 10-year benchmark rate tradesat 4.29%, easing a touch.
The benchmark 10-year Japan Treasury Note (JGB) trades around 1.07%, nearing highs not seen since 2011.

USD/JPY Technical Analysis: Interventions from both sides?

The USD/JPY is trading off its multi-decade high, freshly printed on Wednesday at 160.81. For now, the words from Japanese Finance Minister Shun’ichi Suzuki are having a bit of an impact, though the question is how long the impact will last as the attention will start to die down. The Japanese government is playing a dangerous game, though, seeming to bet on weak US data on Thursday and Friday, which would trigger a pullback in the DXY and might see Yen strengthen without aid from the Japanese government.

Although the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is overbought in the daily chart, a correction could soon occur. If weaker US data, when that plays out and is undoubtedly not a certainty, will be enough to drive USD/JPY down to 151.91 remains to be seen. Instead, look at the 55-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 156.39 and the 100-day SMA at 153.69 for traders to quickly build a pivot on and try to test highs again, testing the Japanese deep pockets again.

USD/JPY: Daily Chart

Central banks FAQs

What does a central bank do?

Central Banks have a key mandate which is making sure that there is price stability in a country or region. Economies are constantly facing inflation or deflation when prices for certain goods and services are fluctuating. Constant rising prices for the same goods means inflation, constant lowered prices for the same goods means deflation. It is the task of the central bank to keep the demand in line by tweaking its policy rate. For the biggest central banks like the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB) or the Bank of England (BoE), the mandate is to keep inflation close to 2%.

What does a central bank do when inflation undershoots or overshoots its projected target?

A central bank has one important tool at its disposal to get inflation higher or lower, and that is by tweaking its benchmark policy rate, commonly known as interest rate. On pre-communicated moments, the central bank will issue a statement with its policy rate and provide additional reasoning on why it is either remaining or changing (cutting or hiking) it. Local banks will adjust their savings and lending rates accordingly, which in turn will make it either harder or easier for people to earn on their savings or for companies to take out loans and make investments in their businesses. When the central bank hikes interest rates substantially, this is called monetary tightening. When it is cutting its benchmark rate, it is called monetary easing.

Who decides on monetary policy and interest rates?

A central bank is often politically independent. Members of the central bank policy board are passing through a series of panels and hearings before being appointed to a policy board seat. Each member in that board often has a certain conviction on how the central bank should control inflation and the subsequent monetary policy. Members that want a very loose monetary policy, with low rates and cheap lending, to boost the economy substantially while being content to see inflation slightly above 2%, are called ‘doves’. Members that rather want to see higher rates to reward savings and want to keep a lit on inflation at all time are called ‘hawks’ and will not rest until inflation is at or just below 2%.

Is there a president or head of a central bank?

Normally, there is a chairman or president who leads each meeting, needs to create a consensus between the hawks or doves and has his or her final say when it would come down to a vote split to avoid a 50-50 tie on whether the current policy should be adjusted. The chairman will deliver speeches which often can be followed live, where the current monetary stance and outlook is being communicated. A central bank will try to push forward its monetary policy without triggering violent swings in rates, equities, or its currency. All members of the central bank will channel their stance toward the markets in advance of a policy meeting event. A few days before a policy meeting takes place until the new policy has been communicated, members are forbidden to talk publicly. This is called the blackout period.

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