Investing.com - The U.S. dollar held near a 20-month high against the yen on Friday, as expectations for more aggressive easing by the Bank of Japan remained intact, while investors continued to worry about the fiscal cliff crisis in the U.S.
USD/JPY hit 84.60 on Wednesday, the pair’s highest since April 12, 2011; the pair subsequently consolidated at 84.22 by close of trade, 0.86% higher for the week.
The pair is likely to find support at 83.85, Friday’s low and resistance at 84.60, Wednesday’s high.
The Bank of Japan expanded the size of its asset-purchase program by JPY10 trillion to JPY101 trillion on Thursday.
BoJ Governor Masaaki Shirakawa also indicated that the central bank’s inflation goal will be reviewed at its next policy meeting in January, amid calls from newly-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the bank to implement more aggressive measures to combat deflation.
Meanwhile, investors continued to monitor developments surrounding the fiscal cliff in the U.S., approximately USD600 billion in automatic tax hikes and spending cuts due to come into effect on January 1.
Doubts over whether a deal will be reached ahead of the year-end intensified late Thursday after House Speaker John Boehner pulled his so-called “Plan B” fiscal cliff option, which called for tax increases only on Americans earning USD1 million or more per year, because his Republican colleagues did not support the legislation.
The U.S. House has adjourned for the Christmas holiday, fueling speculation that policymakers will not be able to avert the fiscal cliff. Without a deal, the U.S. could fall back into recession and drag much of the world down with it.
On the data front, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that core durable goods orders, which exclude transportation items, rose 1.6% in November, defying expectations for a 0.2% decline.
Total durable goods orders rose by 0.7% last month, outpacing consensus forecasts for a 0.2% increase.
Meanwhile, a separate Commerce Department report revealed that personal spending in the U.S. rose by 0.4% in November, beating expectations for a 0.3% rise.
Also in the U.S., the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index slumped unexpectedly in December, possibly due to fears the U.S. will careen over the fiscal cliff.
The index dipped to 72.9 for December from 74.5 the previous month, missing analysts' call for an improvement to 74.7 this month.
In the week ahead trading volumes are expected to remain light because many traders have closed books to lock in profit before the end of the year, reducing liquidity in the market and increasing the volatility.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is to release key reports on consumer confidence, jobless claims and home sales.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, December 24
Markets in Japan will remain closed in observance of Emperor's Birthday, while U.S. equity markets will close early at 13:30EST (18:30 GMT) for the Christmas Eve holiday.
Tuesday, December 25
Markets in the U.S. will remain closed in observance of the Christmas Day holiday.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is to publish the minutes of its most recent monetary policy meeting, which contain important insights into current economic conditions from the bank’s point of view.
Wednesday, December 26
The U.S. is to publish industry data on house price inflation, a leading indicator of demand in the housing market. The U.S. is also to release data on manufacturing activity in Richmond.
Thursday, December 27
The U.S. is to publish its weekly government report on initial jobless claims, as well as data on new home sales and consumer confidence.
Later Thursday, Japan is to publish a flurry of data, with government reports on household spending, inflation, unemployment, manufacturing and retail sales, the leading indicator of consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of economic activity.
Friday, December 28
Japan is to release a government report on average cash earnings.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is to round up the week with data on pending home sales, as well as a report on business conditions in the Chicago area, a leading indicator of economic health. The country is also to release official data on crude oil stockpiles and natural gas inventories.
USD/JPY hit 84.60 on Wednesday, the pair’s highest since April 12, 2011; the pair subsequently consolidated at 84.22 by close of trade, 0.86% higher for the week.
The pair is likely to find support at 83.85, Friday’s low and resistance at 84.60, Wednesday’s high.
The Bank of Japan expanded the size of its asset-purchase program by JPY10 trillion to JPY101 trillion on Thursday.
BoJ Governor Masaaki Shirakawa also indicated that the central bank’s inflation goal will be reviewed at its next policy meeting in January, amid calls from newly-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the bank to implement more aggressive measures to combat deflation.
Meanwhile, investors continued to monitor developments surrounding the fiscal cliff in the U.S., approximately USD600 billion in automatic tax hikes and spending cuts due to come into effect on January 1.
Doubts over whether a deal will be reached ahead of the year-end intensified late Thursday after House Speaker John Boehner pulled his so-called “Plan B” fiscal cliff option, which called for tax increases only on Americans earning USD1 million or more per year, because his Republican colleagues did not support the legislation.
The U.S. House has adjourned for the Christmas holiday, fueling speculation that policymakers will not be able to avert the fiscal cliff. Without a deal, the U.S. could fall back into recession and drag much of the world down with it.
On the data front, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that core durable goods orders, which exclude transportation items, rose 1.6% in November, defying expectations for a 0.2% decline.
Total durable goods orders rose by 0.7% last month, outpacing consensus forecasts for a 0.2% increase.
Meanwhile, a separate Commerce Department report revealed that personal spending in the U.S. rose by 0.4% in November, beating expectations for a 0.3% rise.
Also in the U.S., the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index slumped unexpectedly in December, possibly due to fears the U.S. will careen over the fiscal cliff.
The index dipped to 72.9 for December from 74.5 the previous month, missing analysts' call for an improvement to 74.7 this month.
In the week ahead trading volumes are expected to remain light because many traders have closed books to lock in profit before the end of the year, reducing liquidity in the market and increasing the volatility.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is to release key reports on consumer confidence, jobless claims and home sales.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, December 24
Markets in Japan will remain closed in observance of Emperor's Birthday, while U.S. equity markets will close early at 13:30EST (18:30 GMT) for the Christmas Eve holiday.
Tuesday, December 25
Markets in the U.S. will remain closed in observance of the Christmas Day holiday.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is to publish the minutes of its most recent monetary policy meeting, which contain important insights into current economic conditions from the bank’s point of view.
Wednesday, December 26
The U.S. is to publish industry data on house price inflation, a leading indicator of demand in the housing market. The U.S. is also to release data on manufacturing activity in Richmond.
Thursday, December 27
The U.S. is to publish its weekly government report on initial jobless claims, as well as data on new home sales and consumer confidence.
Later Thursday, Japan is to publish a flurry of data, with government reports on household spending, inflation, unemployment, manufacturing and retail sales, the leading indicator of consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of economic activity.
Friday, December 28
Japan is to release a government report on average cash earnings.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is to round up the week with data on pending home sales, as well as a report on business conditions in the Chicago area, a leading indicator of economic health. The country is also to release official data on crude oil stockpiles and natural gas inventories.