Skip to Content
News & Analysis at your fingertips.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
You can learn more about our cookie policy here, or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site. See our updated Privacy Policy here.

Free Trading Guides
Subscribe
Please try again
Select

Live Webinar Events

0

Economic Calendar Events

0

Notify me about

Live Webinar Events
Economic Calendar Events

H

High

M

Medium

L

Low
More View More
Japanese Yen Stays On Defensive As Markets Await Jackson Hole

Japanese Yen Stays On Defensive As Markets Await Jackson Hole

David Cottle, Analyst

Share:

What's on this page

Japanese Yen Technical Analysis Talking Points:

  • USDJPY has made gains in the past two weeks
  • However, they’ve slowed short of what could be important resistance
  • NZDJPY looks more obviously bearish but it is challenging its downtrend channel

Join our analysts for live, interactive coverage of all major Japanese economic data at the DailyFX Webinars. We’d love to have you along.

The Japanese Yen has been fading against the US Dollar since mid-August but it’s too early to call time on the former’s rally.

From a technical standpoint USDJPY now flirts with resistance at 106.95 which hovers just a few points above the market, well within Dollar bulls’ range. That point is interesting because it represents the 76.4% retracement of the rise from the lows of March 2018 to the peaks of October that same year. Neither of those has been passed since, though the pair did get down to lows not seen since March 2018 just this month. However, it bounced above that month’s lowest point which was 104.52.

US Dollar Vs Japanese Yen, Daily Chart

If the Dollar can regain that retracement level and build a base around or above it on a daily and monthly closing basis, then the bulls can hope for further gains. The sharp falls seen since late July and early August will probably have to be regained far more gradually and doggedly than they were conceded, but a solid rise above 106.95 might well show that the market at least retains the will to try.

However, if the current rally fizzles and retreats below the previous significant daily-closing high of 106.61, made on August 13 then that resolve will be in doubt and the lows of March 2018 will be back in the cards.

Of course, this week’s conclave of big, global central banking names at Jackson Hole under the auspices of the Kansas City Federal Reserve is all-too likely to set direction for markets well beyond USDJPY. The current relatively relaxed position of many risk sensitive assets may simply be a function of the wait for this rather than any inherent sign of strength.

Many Yen-cross daily charts certainly look rather similar now with one partial exception possibly NZDJPY. The Kiwi has been more obviously biased lower than most of its rivals ever since the Reserve Bank of New Zealand opted to shock markets earlier this month with a heavy, half-percentage point interest rate cut.

New Zealand Dollar Vs Japanese Yen, Daily Chart

This forthright action has naturally weighed on the currency but even it has seem some hiatus in its slide against the Japanese Yen. That has in turn seen the top of a clear downtrend channel from August 1 challenged, but not yet conclusively broken. It is of course only part of the overall downtrend from early March, however, and a break might not be terribly significant for more than the short term.

In any case, overall direction is likely to come from global market reaction to the speakers at Jackson Hole. That event kicks off on Thursday.

Japanese Yen Resources for Traders

Whether you’re new to trading or an old hand DailyFX has plenty of resources to help you. There’s our trading sentiment indicator which shows you live how IG clients are positioned right now. We also hold educational and analytical webinars and offer trading guides, with one specifically aimed at those new to foreign exchange markets. There’s also a Bitcoin guide. Be sure to make the most of them all. They were written by our seasoned trading experts and they’re all free.

--- Written by David Cottle, DailyFX Research

Follow David on Twitter @DavidCottleFX or use the Comments section below to get in touch!

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

DISCLOSURES