USD/JPY - Dollar-yen remains at a crossroads - 07/17/2025 (GMT)

USDJPY gained more strongly than most other major pairs with the dollar in the aftermath of June’s higher American inflation. One of the key factors here seems to be generally disappointing trade data from Japan and rising concern in some quarters of a technical recession; weaker economic figures challenge the prevailing expectations that the BoJ will continue to hike rates, but a hike on 31 July still seems fairly likely.

¥149, also the area of the 200 SMA, is a key area: a close above there might signal a push up to ¥150 or possibly even higher. However, the price still hasn’t clearly broken above the previous resistance of the 38.2% weekly Fibonacci retracement slightly above ¥148. Another close above there with higher volume of buying might give more confidence of further gains.

There isn’t an obvious short-term support. ¥147, the limit of 16 July’s tail, is a possibility, but this isn’t confirmed. The 20 SMA is a lot lower; a move beyond there into the value area with the 50 and 100 SMAs seems very unlikely for now unless there’s major surprising news of tariffs or expectations for monetary policy shift dramatically.

This is my personal opinion, not the opinion of Exness. This is not a recommendation to trade.