USDJPY – Daily Chart – 121225 – Q3 Close Up
With the markets betting on a December BoJ rate hike, USD/JPY volatility could intensify on US economic data and Fed rhetoric. On the one hand, markets are speculating on how far the BoJ needs to go to reach normalization. On the other hand, incoming US data will fill the US government shutdown-induced data void, which may materially alter the Fed’s rate path.
Fed Speakers to Spotlight the Greenback
Later on Friday, traders should closely monitor FOMC members’ speeches as the dust settles from Wednesday’s monetary policy decision. FOMC members Beth Hammack and Austan Goolsbee are due to speak. Notably, Cleveland Fed President Hammack will become a voting member in 2026, while Chicago Fed President Goolsbee will be an alternative after being a voting member in 2025.
Cleveland Fed President Hammack’s views on inflation, the labor market, and the timeline for a rate cut will influence US dollar demand. The FOMC’s Dot Plot signaled a single rate cut in 2026. Growing calls for a Q1 2026 rate cut would signal a more dovish Fed rate path. A more dovish Fed policy stance would support a bearish short- to medium-term USD/JPY outlook.
For context, the CME FedWatch Tool gives a 24.4% chance of a January 2026 Fed rate cut, while the probability of a March 2026 cut rose from 42.2% to 49.6% on Thursday, December 11. Traders should closely monitor sentiment toward a Q1 2026 Fed rate cut, which are likely to influence USD/JPY trends.
Technical Outlook: USD/JPY on a Downward Trajectory
With markets focused on rate differentials, technical indicators, and fundamentals will give crucial insights into potential USD/JPY price trends.
Looking at the daily chart, USD/JPY remained above the 50-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), signaling a bullish bias. While technicals remain bullish, fundamentals are increasingly outweighing the technical structure.
A drop below the 155 support level would open the door to testing the 50-day EMA. If breached, 153 would be the next key support. A sustained break below the 50-day EMA would signal a bearish near-term trend reversal. A near-term bearish trend reversal would expose the 200-day EMA and 150.
AloJapan.com