USD into Inflation Week: Oil, EUR/USD, USD/JPY

It’s a big week for US data as we get U.S. inflation data that will probably start to show the initial impacts of higher oil prices. Core PCE is released on Thursday and then CPI a day later, with headline CPI expected to have jumped to 3.3% from last month’s 2.4% print. Core PCE was already elevated last month at 3.1% but that didn’t seem to deter expectations for rate cuts, although the jump in oil prices over the past month has pushed expectations for the bank to hold flat into the end of the year.

FOMC Expectations into End of 2026

Chart prepared by James Stanley; data derived from Tradingview

Oil as the Push Point

While the US Dollar was positively correlated with oil prices in early-March as both markets broke out, that correlation has begun to diverge recently, especially over the past week.

US Oil prices are still showing strength and more acceptance above the $100 level. But the USD on the other hand hasn’t been able to run with breakouts although the bullish backdrop remains given the ascending triangle formation on the daily chart.

US Oil (WTI) Four-Hour Price Chart

Chart prepared by James Stanley; data derived from Tradingview

USD

I think the Japanese Yen situation is still the big push point in the USD, and if we are going to see the Dollar break down it’ll likely need some help from Japanese government officials in the form of an intervention, as USD/JPY is tip-toeing close and closer to a 160.00 breakout.

From the daily chart, bulls still have a shot in DXY as there’s an ascending triangle formation, very similar to the backdrop that had built in February ahead of the breakout to begin March.

US Dollar Daily Price Chart

Chart prepared by James Stanley; data derived from Tradingview

USD/JPY

The 160.00 level has long been thought of the spot that the BoJ would ultimately be ordered to defend the Japanese currency. This was that line in the sand back in 2024 and, ultimately, that intervention worked ‘well’ because of a below-expected US CPI report that hit on the morning of July 11^th that year.

But – there is also precedent for the MoF and the BoJ walking back from what was thought to be a clear line-in-the-sand, as it was the 145.00 level back in 2022 that the bank was defending until, ultimately, USD/JPY bulls broke through for the run up to the 150/151.95 level.

From the weekly chart below we’ve had higher lows over the past few weeks and bulls have already tip-toed beyond the 160.00 level. Shorter-term, it looks like buyers are getting more and more willing to test closer and closer to that line, keeping the door open for breakout potential.

So, perhaps it’s the 165.00 level that will get that intervention defense, or maybe it’s the 161.95 level that marked the top back in 2024 and is an even 1,000 pips above the 2022 and 2023 high which then became support in April of 2024 after the first (failed) defense of the 160.00 handle.

USD/JPY Weekly Price Chart

Chart prepared by James Stanley; data derived from Tradingview

EUR/USD

For USD-weakness I still favor EUR/USD as there’s been a continued build of higher-low supports at an important spot on the chart.

A couple of weeks ago I was looking for either a hold of 1.1500 or the prior higher-low at 1.1451. The latter eventually came in on the following Monday and Tuesday to contain that selling pressure and price is now holding above the 1.1500 level.

From the daily, this can be argued as a bear pennant formation, but if I’m looking for USD-strength I still think USD/JPY breakout setups are more attractive. For USD-weakness, a breach of 1.1655-1.1686 opens the door for buyers to exhibit greater control with pushes up to 1.1750 and then 1.1835.

EUR/USD Daily Chart

Chart prepared by James Stanley; data derived from Tradingview

--- written by James Stanley, Senior Market Analyst, Global Macro