日美货币政策博弈加剧日元走强

Core Viewpoint - The USD/JPY exchange rate is influenced by the Bank of Japan's hawkish signals and the high probability of a Federal Reserve rate cut, leading to a strengthening of the Japanese yen [1] Group 1: Currency Movements - As of August 18, the USD/JPY is trading around 147, with a current quote of 147.50, reflecting a 0.22% increase from the previous close of 147.18 [1] - The USD/JPY is at a critical technical level, with support seen at 147.10 (38.2% Fibonacci retracement) and 145.80-146.00 (50-day and 100-day moving averages) [1] - Resistance levels are identified at 147.90 (21-day moving average) and the 149.40-149.50 range (200-day moving average and 50% Fibonacci retracement of 2025 high/low) [1] Group 2: Monetary Policy Insights - The Bank of Japan's July policy meeting indicated a hawkish stance, raising inflation expectations and keeping the option for rate hikes within the year [1] - U.S. Treasury Secretary criticized the Bank of Japan for its "policy lag," urging for rate hikes to combat inflation pressures [1] - Market analysis suggests that Japan's weak consumer recovery and potential U.S. tariffs on Japanese automobiles may lead the Bank of Japan to maintain a cautious approach [1] Group 3: Market Dynamics - The CME FedWatch tool indicates a 93.8% probability of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September, impacting the USD/JPY dynamics [1] - The market is currently assessing the interplay between the normalization of Japanese monetary policy and the Federal Reserve's policy shift [1]