- USD/JPY edges higher to 143.55 in Thursday’s Asian session, up 0.90% on the day.
- The Fed lowered interest rates for the first time in more than four years with a bigger-than-usual reduction.
- The BoJ is anticipated to stand pat at its policy meeting on Friday.
The USD/JPY pair gains traction around 143.55 on Thursday during the early Asian session. The uptick of the major pair is bolstered by the recovery of the US Dollar (USD). Investors will shift their attention to the Bank of Japan (BoJ) interest rate decision on Friday.
The Federal Reserve (Fed) cut its interest rates by 50 basis points (bps) to 4.75%- 5.00% at the September meeting on Wednesday. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell stated during the press conference that the move was "strong" but needed as price rises ease and job market concerns grow.
Fed policymakers lowered their GDP growth forecast for 2024 to 2%, down from the previous projection of 2.1%. Fed officials raised their projection for the long-run federal funds rate to 2.9% from 2.8%. The Greenback swung between gains and losses after the Fed decision.
Meanwhile, the USD Index (DXY), a measure of the USD's value relative to the majority of its most significant trading partners, bounces off multi-month lows and reclaims the 101.00 barrier, gaining 0.20% on the day. However, the dovish stance of the US Fed and the expectation of additional rate cuts this year could weigh on the USD and limit the upside for the pair.
On the other hand, the BoJ is widely expected to keep interest rates on hold at its two-day meeting ending Friday. Nonetheless, a majority of economists polled by Reuters expect an increase by year-end. Since the Fed started its easing monetary policy in the September meeting, a narrowing gap between the US and Japanese interest rates might lift the Japanese Yen (JPY) against the USD.
(This story was corrected on September 19 at 09:25 GMT to say, in the first paragraph, that USD/JPY gains traction during the early Asian session, not the European session.)
Bank of Japan FAQs
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is the Japanese central bank, which sets monetary policy in the country. Its mandate is to issue banknotes and carry out currency and monetary control to ensure price stability, which means an inflation target of around 2%.
The Bank of Japan has embarked in an ultra-loose monetary policy since 2013 in order to stimulate the economy and fuel inflation amid a low-inflationary environment. The bank’s policy is based on Quantitative and Qualitative Easing (QQE), or printing notes to buy assets such as government or corporate bonds to provide liquidity. In 2016, the bank doubled down on its strategy and further loosened policy by first introducing negative interest rates and then directly controlling the yield of its 10-year government bonds.
The Bank’s massive stimulus has caused the Yen to depreciate against its main currency peers. This process has exacerbated more recently due to an increasing policy divergence between the Bank of Japan and other main central banks, which have opted to increase interest rates sharply to fight decades-high levels of inflation. The BoJ’s policy of holding down rates has led to a widening differential with other currencies, dragging down the value of the Yen.
A weaker Yen and the spike in global energy prices have led to an increase in Japanese inflation, which has exceeded the BoJ’s 2% target. With wage inflation becoming a cause of concern, the BoJ looks to move away from ultra loose policy, while trying to avoid slowing the activity too much.
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 extends recovery beyond 1.0400 amid Wall Street's turnaround
EUR/USD extends its recovery beyond 1.0400, helped by the better performance of Wall Street and softer-than-anticipated United States PCE inflation. Profit-taking ahead of the winter holidays also takes its toll.
GBP/USD nears 1.2600 on renewed USD weakness
GBP/USD extends its rebound from multi-month lows and approaches 1.2600. The US Dollar stays on the back foot after softer-than-expected PCE inflation data, helping the pair edge higher. Nevertheless, GBP/USD remains on track to end the week in negative territory.
Gold rises above $2,620 as US yields edge lower
Gold extends its daily rebound and trades above $2,620 on Friday. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield declines toward 4.5% following the PCE inflation data for November, helping XAU/USD stretch higher in the American session.
Bitcoin crashes to $96,000, altcoins bleed: Top trades for sidelined buyers
Bitcoin (BTC) slipped under the $100,000 milestone and touched the $96,000 level briefly on Friday, a sharp decline that has also hit hard prices of other altcoins and particularly meme coins.
Bank of England stays on hold, but a dovish front is building
Bank of England rates were maintained at 4.75% today, in line with expectations. However, the 6-3 vote split sent a moderately dovish signal to markets, prompting some dovish repricing and a weaker pound. We remain more dovish than market pricing for 2025.
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.