USD/JPY Struggles for Direction as 2023 Trading Year Closes

As 2023’s trading activities wind down, the USD/JPY pair grapples with a lack of clear momentum, re-entering the 141.00 territory. Amidst post-holiday market lulls leading up to the New Year’s long weekend, the US Dollar (USD) has seen a 0.3% dip against the Japanese Yen (JPY) on the final Friday of the year, culminating in a 1% decline over the week.

The US economy has delivered underwhelming data, highlighted by the disappointing US Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) figures for December. The PMI registered a contractionary 46.9, a stark contrast to November’s 18-month high of 55.8 and significantly below the median forecast of 51.0.

This downturn in US economic indicators is paradoxically fuelling a broader market appetite for risk, with investors anticipating that global economic slowdowns could prompt the Federal Reserve (Fed) to hasten the pace of rate reductions in 2024.

From a technical perspective, the USD/JPY pair recently edged closer to the 140.00 mark, influenced by a positive stochastic momentum that now seems to be waning as it enters overbought territory. This dynamic aligns with the potential resumption of a bearish trend, with the immediate target for the pair placed around 139.45.

The Exponential Moving Average (EMA50) exerts a downward pressure, reinforcing the potential for a continued bearish movement. However, this trend is contingent upon the pair not breaching and sustaining above the 142.35 threshold.

Today’s trading is expected to fluctuate within the support level of 140.50 and the resistance level of 142.00. The predominant trend for the day leans towards bearish, reflecting the broader market dynamics and technical indicators.

USD/JPY Live Chart

USD/JPY
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Arslan Butt
Index & Commodity Analyst
Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics.His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker.His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.
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