USDJPY Technical Analysis – Only ugly US data or a hawkish BoJ can save the JPY

<p>The miss in the US NFP and
CPI reports triggered a broad USD selloff as the market expected the Fed to be
done with rate hikes after the July FOMC meeting. The US data though keeps on
coming in on the hot side with <a href="https://www.forexlive.com/news/usa-june-retail-sales-02-versus-05-expected-20230718/">US Retail Sales Control Group</a> beating expectations and the <a href="https://www.forexlive.com/news/us-initial-jobless-claims-228k-vs-242k-estimate-continuing-claims-1754m-vs-1729m-est-20230720/">US Initial Claims</a> falling back to cycle low levels.
Yesterday, the <a href="https://www.forexlive.com/news/us-july-flash-sp-global-services-pmi-524-vs-540-expected-20230724/">US PMIs</a> painted a mixed picture though with the
Services PMI missing expectations, but remaining in expansion, and the
Manufacturing PMI jumping from 46.2 to 49.0, almost rising back into expansion.
</p><p>On the other hand, the BoJ
maintains its dovish stance while core inflation remains at a four decades high.
There are few signs of a possible exit from the current policy, with the BoJ
board members keeping on dismissing any change, and after the last week’s <a href="https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/japan-june-cpi-headline-33-yy-expected-33-20230720/">CPI data</a> and the <a href="https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/boj-reportedly-erring-towards-leaving-policy-unchanged-next-week-20230721/">Reuters report</a> citing sources that the BoJ will
leave its policy unchanged at this meeting, it’s hard to expect anything
hawkish coming out of the BoJ in the near future. </p><p>USDJPY Technical Analysis –
Daily Timeframe</p><p>On the daily chart, we can see
that after the huge selloff from the 145.00 handle, the USDJPY bounced on the
137.95 support and the
61.8% <a href="https://www.forexlive.com/Education/technical-analysis-using-fibonacci-retracements-20220421/">Fibonacci retracement</a> level to
rally back to the 142.00 handle as the US data kept on coming in strong and the
expectations for the BoJ to tweak its YCC policy waned. The price is now
testing a strong resistance level where we can also find the 61.8% Fibonacci
retracement level and the red 21 moving average for confluence. This is
where we should see the sellers stepping in to target a new low. </p><p>USDJPY Technical Analysis –
4 hour Timeframe</p><p>On the 4 hour chart, we can see that USDJPY is
clearly in an uptrend at the moment with the price printing higher highs and
higher lows and the moving averages crossed to the upside. We might see another
spike to the upside to tap into the 142.17 resistance where the sellers should
step in more aggressively with a defined risk above the level and target a new
low. </p><p>USDJPY Technical Analysis –
1 hour Timeframe</p><p>On the 1 hour chart, we can see that the
price is struggling to break above a top trendline and if
it does, we should see a quick run into the 142.17 resistance. From a risk
management perspective, the buyers would have a better setup if they leant on
the 140.50 support as a break below it would invalidate the bullish trend and
increase the chances of a big selloff to new lows. Alternatively, the buyers
may pile in once the price breaks above the 142.17 resistance, but the price
would be overstretched at that point and prone to a big pullback. So, only a
strong fundamental catalyst can offer such a strong rally from here. </p><p>Upcoming Events</p><p>Today the only notable
event will be the US Consumer Confidence report where the market will want to
see if the last month incredibly strong report was just a blip. Another strong
report should give the USDJPY some support, while a miss may offer a pullback.
Tomorrow, the Fed is expected to hike by 25 bps and the market will be focused
on any hint of a pause or further rate hikes. On Thursday, it will be the time
for another US Jobless Claims report and another strong beat is likely to lead
to another rally, while a big miss should lead to more downside. On Friday, the
BoJ is expected to keep everything unchanged, and the market will want to see
if they surprise with a tweak to their YCC policy or provide some hawkish
forward guidance. Later in the day, we will see the latest US PCE and ECI
reports with the wages data probably being more important. </p>

This article was written by FL Contributors at www.forexlive.com.