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Meanwhile, a separate report showed industrial production improved in October, increasing 02% from the previous month and beating economists' expectations for a 0.6% drop. In addition to that, retail sales rose 1.4% in the year to October, overshooting analysts' predictions for a 1.2% gain. However, household spending declined for a seventh consecutive month, falling 4.0% in the year to October, albeit slower than a 5.6% annual drop a month earlier.
Since we are concentrating on news and events from Japan this time, we have interviewed currency strategist Jonathan Cavenagh from Westpac on this matter. He believes there are two predominant drivers for the Yen. The first thing is the domestic situation in Japan, since the BoJ is maintaining a very accommodating monetary policy stance: its balance sheet is already at 57% of GDP, and is going to grow larger from where it is. One other big influence is the economic situation in the United States. Generally, high US interest rate tends to push up the USD/JPY, as the yield appeal or capital flowing out of Japan becomes more attractive.
Mostly Japan's data drive the pair, expected important US manufacturing data
Thursday is a bank holiday for US, as they celebrate Thanksgiving Day. However, there are important data released in Japan that could affect the market. Most likely the volatility will elevate around 23:30 GMT on Thursday, when Japan's household spending, unemployment rate and Tokyo Core CPI will be released. Moreover, 20 minutes later Japanese prelim industrial production and retail sales will be announced.{ATTACHMENT}
USD/JPY continues to trade around this year's highs
At the first half of the year USD/JPY was trading almost completely flat, as it traded around the 102 level. However, at the second part of August the Greenback started to outperform the Japanese peer rather heavily. At the moment the pair has reached the 118/119 mark and for the time being it is supported by the support line and weekly PP around the 118 mark, if this level holds then we might see the pair climbing even higher. Nonetheless, in case these levels do not hold the selling pressure then the pair is likely to slide towards the monthly PP at 116.75.Daily chart
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While in the short-term USD/JPY seems supported above the 118 level, as the weekly PP and 55, 100 and 200-period SMAs are located just above the mark. Moreover, the Greenback reached new this year's high at 119.03; however, that has impacted the pair to the down-side as the pair slipped shortly after that. The daily technical levels are bullish and that could continue to push the pair above the 119 level.
Hourly chart
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