USD/JPY Climbs Towards Mid-147.00s: Market Caught in Range-Bound Movement as BoJ-Fed Divergence Weighs

The USD/JPY pair has shown a modest rebound from the weekly low of 146.85, edging closer to the mid-147.00s during Thursday’s Asian session. Despite this climb, the pair remains trapped in a range that has persisted for the past few weeks, with a lack of clear direction.

Key Factors Influencing USD/JPY’s Movement:

1. BoJ-Fed Divergence:
   The most significant factor impacting the USD/JPY pair is the ongoing divergence between the Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the Federal Reserve (Fed) policies. While the BoJ sticks to its policy normalization path, the Fed is anticipated to resume its rate-cutting cycle as early as September. This disparity in policy outlooks keeps the pair’s price movement contained. The BoJ’s more dovish stance contrasts with the Fed’s expected actions, leading to uncertainty in the market.
2. US Dollar Strength:
   The US Dollar continues to receive support from reduced bets on aggressive policy easing by the Fed in the upcoming months. Although expectations for rate cuts remain, the less aggressive stance in the US boosts the greenback, supporting USD/JPY. However, this momentum is capped by the divergent policies of the BoJ.
3. Market Focus on Global PMI Data:
   As the USD/JPY pair struggles to break its current range, traders are looking towards the flash global PMI data for potential short-term trading opportunities. The focus shifts further to the upcoming speech by Fed Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole Symposium, which is expected to offer more clarity on the Fed’s future policy path. Any hawkish signals from Powell could add further strength to the USD and influence the pair’s movement.

Japan’s Economic Data: Mixed Signals

The latest flash Japan Manufacturing PMI for August rose to 49.9 from July’s reading of 48.9. While this signals an improvement, the index still remains in contraction territory, indicating continued struggles in the manufacturing sector. Despite this slight improvement, the data failed to provide a significant boost to the Japanese Yen.

Technical Outlook for USD/JPY:

The USD/JPY pair continues to trade in a tight range, with resistance levels above the 147.50 mark and support at the 146.85 zone. Given the current market conditions, traders are advised to wait for stronger momentum before positioning for any directional move. The uncertainty surrounding future BoJ and Fed decisions makes it difficult to predict a clear trend in the near term.

In Conclusion:
The USD/JPY pair remains in a cautious, range-bound market as the divergence between BoJ and Fed policies weighs on the Yen. The upcoming global PMI data and Fed Chair Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole are expected to offer more direction. For now, traders should remain alert to any shifts in market sentiment or central bank policies that may prompt a breakout from the current range.

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