USD/JPY CPI Data Talking Points:
- The Japanese Yen was cautiously weaker on a local inflation miss in April
- Persistent disinflation may irk BoJ’s Governor Kuroda, look for his reaction
- USD/JPY remains in ascending channel and could test a trend line from 2015
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The Japanese Yen cautiously fell as expected after April’s local inflation report crossed the wires. Heading into this announcement, the Bank of Japan cut any precise mention as to the exact timing for reaching two percent inflation at April’s interest rate decision. The central bank also said back then that inflation is to average 1.3% this year. That seems increasingly more unlikely after today.
Looking at the data, Japan’s headline CPI rate clocked in at just 0.6% versus 0.7% expected and 1.1% in March. Meanwhile, national CPI excluding fresh food (the central bank’s target) was 0.7% versus 0.8% estimated and 0.9% prior. The only statistic that was in line with forecasts was CPI excluding fresh food and energy prices. That was 0.4%, down from 0.5%.
As you can see below, the country has been experiencing some mild disinflation lately as prices move further away from the BoJ’s target. In such cases, weakening price levels may inspire a central bank to counter with lower rates and more stimulus. Judging the market’s reaction, the data seems to have not done fueled such expectations. Governor Haruhiko Kuroda did mention on Tuesday that there are various uncertainties for inflation.
With that in mind, keep an eye out for how BoJ’s Governor Kuroda responds to the data. Signs that they may consider more easing on weaker inflation could hurt the Japanese Yen. Now that this event is behind us, keep an eye out for what is more likely to drive the Japanese Yen, risk trends. On this front, news that China is to cut $200b in the US trade deficit with them may encourage sentiment, boosting shares and sapping the appeal of the anti-risk currency.
USD/JPY Technical Analysis: No Signs of Reversing Dominant Trend
On a daily chart, USD/JPY has been in a rising channel since late-March and there aren’t any immediate signs that the pair could reverse its progress. It may even keep climbing to test the falling trend line from August 2015. From here, near-term support is the 38.2% Fibonacci extension at 110.71. A push below that exposes the 23.6% level at 109.92. On the other hand, immediate resistance is the 50% midpoint at 111.35 followed by the upper line of the channel.
USD/JPY Trading Resources:
- Join a free Q&A webinar and have your trading questions answered
- Just getting started? See our beginners’ guide for FX traders
- See how the Japanese Yen is viewed by the trading community at the DailyFX Sentiment Page
— Written by Daniel Dubrovsky, Junior Currency Analyst for DailyFX.com
To contact Daniel, use the comments section below or @ddubrovskyFX on Twitter
