USD/JPY hits a 32-year high and brings 150 within sight

Asian Indices:

• Australia's ASX 200 index rose by 106.3 points (1.6%) and currently trades at 6,770.70
• Japan's Nikkei 225 index has risen by 209.87 points (0.78%) and currently trades at 26,958.66
• Hong Kong's Hang Seng index has risen by 65.8 points (0.4%) and currently trades at 16,678.70
• China's A50 Index has risen by 5.1 points (0.04%) and currently trades at 12,767.93

UK and Europe:

• UK's FTSE 100 futures are currently up 23.5 points (0.34%), the cash market is currently estimated to open at 6,943.74
• Euro STOXX 50 futures are currently up 5 points (0.15%), the cash market is currently estimated to open at 3,446.64
• Germany's DAX futures are currently up 21 points (0.17%), the cash market is currently estimated to open at 12,670.03

US Futures:

• DJI futures are currently up 253 points (0.84%)
• S&P 500 futures are currently up 125.5 points (1.13%)
• Nasdaq 100 futures are currently up 37.25 points (1.01%)

China’s equity markets were off to a weak start following news of more Covid restrictions in China. Flareups in Zhenzhou City resulted in around 1 million residents locked down. However, positive (or less disappointing than feared) earnings helped lift Wal Street into the close, which seemingly had the greater impact across Asia as the session evolved with all major benchmarks now higher than yesterday’s close.

NZD is the strongest major following hot inflation print

New Zealand became the latest in a long list of ‘hotter-than-expected’ inflation reports, with it rising in Q3 by 7.2% y/y versus 6.6% expected, or 2.2% q/q compared with 1.6% expected. This saw NZD pairs and the OIS curve move higher as traders priced in a tighter trajectory of hikes.

The RBA minutes were also released which hinted at a longer cycle of rate hikes, but at a much slower pace than elsewhere. 25bp increments appear the more likely going forward, although as of yet unsure of or when they may take a pause to assess what impact the current tightening cycle has had.

Traders have 150 USD/JPY within sight

USD/JPY is cautiously trading around the 149, a level it crossed in the final stages of the US session to take it to its highest level since 1990. Its epic rally of late needs no introduction, and the only thing that seems to hold the rally back once in a while is whether we’ll see an intervention from the MOF or BOJ. Yet traders take comfort in knowing that the BOJ are happy to let the currency slide, so long as it is not too quickly (volatile).

The 1-hour chart shows the 10-bar EMA has provided dynamic support, but if it dips lower after the European open then we’d seek evidence of a swing low down to the 148.39 area. Take note that the 1-day +IV I just above 150 and the weekly R1 pivot, so 150 is a potential target for bulls with 149.50 also in focus along the way.

However, if prices break below 148.39 then it runs the risk of a deeper pullback towards 148, given the lack of volumes that traded during the prior rally through this zone.

GBP/JPY 30minute chart:

If USD/JPY rallies then there is also a decent chance that GBP/JPY will follow, as it has the fundamental tailwind of the reformed economic package from the UK government. A strong bullish trend has developed on the 30-minute chart and prices are within a retracement phase. We’re equally happy to seek evidence of a swing low around or above a support level, or seek bullish momentum turn suggest its bullish rally has resumed.

Economic events up next (Times in BST)