Tariffs Temporarily Reverse Yen's Trajectory, Market Awaits Central Bankers

Market Overview - Risk assets experienced significant volatility, with equities initially rising despite a U.S. government shutdown, only to decline sharply after President Trump's announcement of 100% tariff hikes on Chinese imports, resulting in the worst weekly loss for major indices since late May, with the Dow Jones dropping as much as 2.7% [1] - The dollar strengthened broadly due to safe-haven demand and a lack of U.S. data, which typically suppresses volatility [2] - Precious metals, particularly gold, saw a notable increase, surpassing $4,000 per ounce after previously clearing $3,000 earlier in the year [2] Currency Movements - The Japanese yen initially weakened as USD/JPY surged over 2% to 150.47, influenced by Japan's ruling LDP selecting a leader aligned with Abenomics-style policies, but later strengthened as equities declined [3][4] - The euro faced pressure against the dollar and pound amid political instability in France, with the US Dollar Index rising to 98.11 [4] Currency Pairs in Focus - GBP/AUD broke a long-term downtrend, rising sharply against the AUD and surpassing resistance at 2.05250, indicating potential for further bullish movement [5][7] - The Singapore dollar reached its highest point against the yen year-to-date, with a pullback observed towards former resistance at 116.280, which could present a buying opportunity if it holds as support [8][10] Upcoming Events - The upcoming earnings season is anticipated to provide market orientation, with major banks set to report Q3 results, while the ongoing government shutdown may delay macroeconomic updates [11][12] - Market participants will closely monitor trade war developments and central bank updates, with several speeches scheduled throughout the week [12]