FX analysis – JPY , AUD, NZD, CAD, USD

USD tracked higher with yields in Tuesday’s session with the Dollar Index (DXY) hitting a high of 103.820, setting a new YTD high and breaking through the key technical levels of the 200-day SMA as well as a 50% Fib resistance level. DXY saw initial weakness in the European morning which emanated from APAC hours amid a firmer post-BoJ Yen but reversed course in the US session as UST yields climbed and earnings disappointments saw US equites struggle.

JPY closed the session seeing marginal losses against the USD. USDJPY did drop to a low of 146.97 after BoJ Governor Ueda delivered a hawkish-leaning press conference after the BoJ policy decision where he said he will certainly foresee further rate hikes when exiting negative interest rate policy. JPY gains failed to hold though with the pair retaking the 148 handle coming into the APAC open.

AUD, NZD and CAD were the G10 outperformers, with all making gains against the USD. NZD and AUD were bolstered by overnight Yuan gains and resilience in commodity prices. CAD was bid ahead of todays Bank of Canada policy meeting where the central bank is expected to hold rates steady, and possibly pushback against rate cut predictions after a hotter than expected December inflation reading.