Japanese Yen firms as easing tensions weigh on USD before Fed, BoJ

• The Japanese Yen strengthens against the US Dollar as tensions between the United States and Iran ease.
• Investors await this week's monetary policy decisions from the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan.
• US Durable Goods Orders disappoint expectations, limiting support for the US Dollar.

USD/JPY edges lower on Monday and trades around 163.70 at the time of writing, down 0.09% on the day, as the US Dollar (USD) comes under pressure from improving risk sentiment following the latest geopolitical developments. Market mood improved after Washington and Tehran confirmed they had paused attacks against each other, reviving hopes for renewed diplomatic efforts between the two countries.

The US Dollar's weakness is also reflected in the US Dollar Index (DXY), which remains in negative territory, while US equities are moving higher, highlighting a more favorable environment for risk assets.

Market participants are now turning their attention to this week's monetary policy decisions from the Federal Reserve (Fed), due on Wednesday, and the Bank of Japan (BoJ), scheduled for Friday. Both central banks are widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged. Investors will mainly focus on the tone of policymakers, after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh recently stated that forward guidance is not well suited to the current policy environment.

In Japan, investors continue to expect the BoJ to maintain a gradual tightening bias. According to a recent Reuters poll, a large majority of economists expect the central bank to deliver another interest rate hike by the end of the year, supporting expectations for a continued normalization of Japanese monetary policy.

US economic data released on Monday also provided only limited support for the Greenback. Durable Goods Orders increased by just 0.3% in June, well below market expectations of a 1.6% rise. Excluding transportation, orders rose 0.6%, while computers and electronic products made the strongest contribution to the increase.

The combination of easing geopolitical tensions, weaker-than-expected US economic data and caution ahead of the Fed and BoJ policy meetings is therefore keeping USD/JPY under modest pressure at the start of the week.

BoJ under pressure to turn more hawkish as Yen hovers near multi-decade lows

Analysts at MUFG note that the recent “drop in energy prices at the start of this week has brought some much-needed relief for Japanese policymakers and helped to slow upward momentum for USD/JPY which has held just below the 164.00-level since late last week.” They add that “market attention in the week ahead will be on how the BoJ responds to inflation pressures in Japan,” with investors focused on whether the central bank uses the upcoming meeting to shift guidance.

MUFG points out that “the BoJ are expected to leave rates on hold after hiking at the last meeting in June, but market participants will be watching closely to see if they provide any hawkish signals over future hikes.” The bank highlights a recent “Bloomberg” report suggesting “that the BoJ was open to a faster pace of rate hikes than every six months while adding that yen weakness was increasing upside inflation risks.” In their view, “without hawkish guidance, the yen is vulnerable to further weakness especially if the Fed delivers a hawkish policy surprise this week.”

Strategists at BNY similarly argue that “the BoJ is widely expected to leave policy unchanged, with guidance and updated projections the key focus for timing signals.” They flag that “Tokyo Consumer Price Index (CPI), retail sales and industrial production will provide the final assessment of economic conditions ahead of the meeting,” helping to shape the policy debate. BNY expects “the BoJ is expected to keep the target rate unchanged at 1.00%, but a hawkish message committing to further tightening is probably a matter of urgency as the JPY slides beyond four-decade lows.” They warn that “fears are growing over fiscal conditions as well in light of the recent budget, and the BoJ needs to signal some tightening in financial conditions to manage the risks arising from fiscal impulse.” Until the central bank “gets ahead of expectations, the JPY will struggle, especially as balance-of-payments risks resurface.”