The dollar is expected to fall and the yen rise.
Risk aversion prevailed in March on credit concerns about US regional banks and a major European bank, with the dollar/yen pair trading with a heavy topside to drop below 130 yen. Excessive concerns about the US financial system then eased on news that some regional banks would be bought out, so the dollar was bought again. However, the pair’s rally was quite muted compared to its rally towards 135 yen after the release of the US February consumer price index (CPI) data. With President Biden also saying the banking crisis was still not over, it seems this rally was merely due to a slight withdrawal of ‘excessive concerns,’ with investors still worried that tougher banking regulations might act as a new risk-off factor. Furthermore, though FRB chair Jerome Powell has said he envisages one more rate hike this year, the markets are split evenly when it comes to pricing in another hike, so it seems there are concerns about the negative impact of tightening on the financial environment. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) will also be meeting to set policy for the first time under its new structure at the end of April. Most observers believe the BOJ will stick to the status quo for now, but it is also possible the BOJ might announce a policy shift. Investors are starting to focus on FRB rate hikes, so if a BOJ policy shift does seem more likely, market participants will then focus on a future shrinkage of Japanese/US interest-rate differentials. Based on the above, it seems the dollar/yen pair will be susceptible to more downward pressure in April.
However, the US also released some firm economic indicators in March. Inflationary pressures also remain high, as evinced by a comment by a FRB official that “inflation is still too high.” US interest rates rose and the dollar was bought at the start of March on hawkish comments by FRB chair Jerome Powell. Controlling inflation remains the FRB’s number one priority. With Mr. Powell also commenting that “the ultimate level of interest rates is likely to be higher than previously anticipated,” some observers believe it is too early to start talking about rate cuts. With concerns about the financial system smoldering away, market participants will be focusing on comments by FRB officials ahead of the May FOMC meeting as they try to gauge the direction of monetary policy.
Risk aversion prevailed in March on credit concerns about US regional banks and a major European bank, with the dollar/yen pair trading with a heavy topside to drop below 130 yen. Excessive concerns about the US financial system then eased on news that some regional banks would be bought out, so the dollar was bought again. However, the pair’s rally was quite muted compared to its rally towards 135 yen after the release of the US February consumer price index (CPI) data. With President Biden also saying the banking crisis was still not over, it seems this rally was merely due to a slight withdrawal of ‘excessive concerns,’ with investors still worried that tougher banking regulations might act as a new risk-off factor. Furthermore, though FRB chair Jerome Powell has said he envisages one more rate hike this year, the markets are split evenly when it comes to pricing in another hike, so it seems there are concerns about the negative impact of tightening on the financial environment. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) will also be meeting to set policy for the first time under its new structure at the end of April. Most observers believe the BOJ will stick to the status quo for now, but it is also possible the BOJ might announce a policy shift. Investors are starting to focus on FRB rate hikes, so if a BOJ policy shift does seem more likely, market participants will then focus on a future shrinkage of Japanese/US interest-rate differentials. Based on the above, it seems the dollar/yen pair will be susceptible to more downward pressure in April.
However, the US also released some firm economic indicators in March. Inflationary pressures also remain high, as evinced by a comment by a FRB official that “inflation is still too high.” US interest rates rose and the dollar was bought at the start of March on hawkish comments by FRB chair Jerome Powell. Controlling inflation remains the FRB’s number one priority. With Mr. Powell also commenting that “the ultimate level of interest rates is likely to be higher than previously anticipated,” some observers believe it is too early to start talking about rate cuts. With concerns about the financial system smoldering away, market participants will be focusing on comments by FRB officials ahead of the May FOMC meeting as they try to gauge the direction of monetary policy.
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Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.