Yen bulls have the edge
Yen bulls are gathering momentum, no matter the outcome of the U.S. elections.
Election risks are significant. Breakevens for overnight options suggest USD/JPY can easily test 150 or 154 once voting outcomes become clearer. Conventional thinking suggests a Kamala Harris victory is negative for USD/JPY and a Donald Trump win positive.
That said, there is a slight bearish bias in option activity and pricing, with some traders seeing USD/JPY slumping below 150 should the “Trump trade” and yen shorts unravel. Turnover in USD/JPY options with strikes set below current spot are outpacing those with higher strikes about 3 to 1, DTCC data shows. Part of the turnover is likely hedging short yen positions built up since USD/JPY topped 150.
But there are other potentially yen-positive factors at play outside the election outcome. First, the Fed will likely deliver a 25 basis point cut this week. Second, a post-election drop in volatility should buoy U.S. equites, weighing on the dollar. Third, political uncertainty in Japan may ease if a new ruling coalition is formed prior to Monday’s special session of Parliament. Finally, odds of a December Bank of Japan rate hike are edging up.
Technically, a USD/JPY close below its 200-DMA of 151.60 would open up a test of the key 150 psychological level. A further drop below the 149.09 Oct. 21 low would put the focus on the pair's thinning Ichimoku cloud.
For more click on FXBUZ
yen chart https://tmsnrt.rs/3YztmIW
(Robert Fullem is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own.)
</body></html>Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
