USD/JPY rises further and approaches 148.00 as the US Dollar firms up
- The US Dollar rallies for the second consecutive day against the Yen, and approaches 148.00.
- Strong US data support the Fed's "wait and see" stance and underpin demand for the US Dollar.
- In Japan, the uncertain political context is likely to deter the BoJ from hiking interest rates further.
The US Dollar extends its rally against the Japanese Yen for the second consecutive day on Friday: The pair has erased weekly losses and is nearing 148.00 from Thursday’s lows below 146.00 as US Treasury yields pick up with enthusiasm about this week’s trade deals fading.
Previous market optimism is turning into caution as the market shifts its focus to the monetary policy reports by the Bank of Japan and the US Federal Reserve due next week.
The Fed is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged next week, more so after the strong US business activity and Jobless Claims figures released on Thursday. These data confirmed that the US economy remains resilient with a healthy labour market, which gives further leeway for the Fed to await further insight into the impact of tariffs before resuming rate cuts. The US Dollar has been trading higher following Thursday’s releases.
Also on Thursday, US President Trump paid an unusual visit to the Federal Reserve, only a few days ahead of their monetary policy meeting. Trump complained about the overcosts of the headquarters’ renovation and pressed for a less restrictive monetary policy, but his unusually soft comments after the visit eased investors’ concerns about the previous attacks on the central bank's independence.
In Japan, the somewhat softer Tokyo inflation figures seen on Friday and the trade deal would help the BoJ to continue hiking interest rates, but the bank is likely to stand pat next week and probably delay further monetary tightening until the political situation clarifies. This is likely to keep the Yen upside attempts subdued in the near-term.
Central banks FAQs
Central Banks have a key mandate which is making sure that there is price stability in a country or region. Economies are constantly facing inflation or deflation when prices for certain goods and services are fluctuating. Constant rising prices for the same goods means inflation, constant lowered prices for the same goods means deflation. It is the task of the central bank to keep the demand in line by tweaking its policy rate. For the biggest central banks like the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB) or the Bank of England (BoE), the mandate is to keep inflation close to 2%.
A central bank has one important tool at its disposal to get inflation higher or lower, and that is by tweaking its benchmark policy rate, commonly known as interest rate. On pre-communicated moments, the central bank will issue a statement with its policy rate and provide additional reasoning on why it is either remaining or changing (cutting or hiking) it. Local banks will adjust their savings and lending rates accordingly, which in turn will make it either harder or easier for people to earn on their savings or for companies to take out loans and make investments in their businesses. When the central bank hikes interest rates substantially, this is called monetary tightening. When it is cutting its benchmark rate, it is called monetary easing.
A central bank is often politically independent. Members of the central bank policy board are passing through a series of panels and hearings before being appointed to a policy board seat. Each member in that board often has a certain conviction on how the central bank should control inflation and the subsequent monetary policy. Members that want a very loose monetary policy, with low rates and cheap lending, to boost the economy substantially while being content to see inflation slightly above 2%, are called ‘doves’. Members that rather want to see higher rates to reward savings and want to keep a lit on inflation at all time are called ‘hawks’ and will not rest until inflation is at or just below 2%.
Normally, there is a chairman or president who leads each meeting, needs to create a consensus between the hawks or doves and has his or her final say when it would come down to a vote split to avoid a 50-50 tie on whether the current policy should be adjusted. The chairman will deliver speeches which often can be followed live, where the current monetary stance and outlook is being communicated. A central bank will try to push forward its monetary policy without triggering violent swings in rates, equities, or its currency. All members of the central bank will channel their stance toward the markets in advance of a policy meeting event. A few days before a policy meeting takes place until the new policy has been communicated, members are forbidden to talk publicly. This is called the blackout period.