Investing.com – Last week saw the U.S. dollar close at a record low against the yen on Friday, against a backdrop of uncertainty over the scope and potential impact of a fresh round of monetary easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
USD/JPY hit 81.97 on Wednesday, the pair’s highest since October 13; the pair subsequently consolidated at 80.37 by close of trade on Friday, tumbling 1.09% on the week.
The pair is likely to find short-term support at 79.75, the low of April 19 1995 and the all-time low and resistance at 81.97, last Wednesday’s high.
On Tuesday, the dollar rebounded from a 15-year low against the yen following a verbal intervention by Japan. Japan’s Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said that Monday’s exchange rate moves were “one-sided” after the currency fell to 80.41; it’s lowest since April 1995. He added that the Japanese government was paying "grave attention" to market developments.
But the dollar tumbled after disappointing U.S. data released Friday seemed to underline expectations of further easing ahead of next weeks meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.
U.S. GDP rose at an annual rate of 2.0% in the third quarter, in line with expectations, after rising 1.7% in the second quarter. However the real final sales component - the measure of demand in the U.S. - rose by only 0.6%. That was down from 0.9% in the second quarter and 1.1% in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, the University of Michigan consumer-sentiment index unexpectedly fell to 67.7 in October. Economists had expected the index to rise to 68.0.
Next weeks economic calendar contains events capable of shaping currency markets for several weeks to come, with the Fed's November 2-3 FOMC meeting and U.S. nonfarm payrolls. In addition, the U.S. is to release key weekly data on initial jobless claims as well as data on pending home sales and reports on manufacturing and service sector growth.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is to announce its benchmark interest rate.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets. The guide skips Tuesday as there are no relevant events on this day.
Monday, November 1
The U.S. will begin the week by publishing official data on personal income as well as data on personal spending, which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity. The country is also to publish industry data on manufacturing, a leading indicator of economic health.
The Bank of Japan is to publish the minutes of the most recent meeting of its monetary policy committee. The minutes provide an in-depth insight into the economic conditions that influenced the decision on where to set interest rates.
Wednesday, November 3
The U.S. is to publish a key monthly report on ADP non-farm employment change, which leads government data by two days. The country is also to publish industry data on service sector growth.
In addition, the Federal Reserve is to announce its benchmark interest rate. The announcement will be followed by the heavily anticipated FOMC rate statement.
Meanwhile, markets in Japan will remain closed for a Bank Holiday.
Thursday, November 4
The U.S. is to publish key weekly data on initial jobless claims, the nation’s earliest economic data and a leading indicator of overall economic health. The country is also to publish quarterly data on non-farm productivity and labor costs, both leading inflationary indicators.
Friday, November 5
The Bank of Japan is to announce its benchmark interest rate and publish its monetary policy statement, which will be followed by a closely watched press conference.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is to round up the week with data on non-farm employment change and a report on the country's unemployment rate. The country will also release official data on pending home sales, while Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is due to deliver a speech at a public engagement. His comments will be closely scrutinized for any clues to the future direction of monetary policy.
USD/JPY hit 81.97 on Wednesday, the pair’s highest since October 13; the pair subsequently consolidated at 80.37 by close of trade on Friday, tumbling 1.09% on the week.
The pair is likely to find short-term support at 79.75, the low of April 19 1995 and the all-time low and resistance at 81.97, last Wednesday’s high.
On Tuesday, the dollar rebounded from a 15-year low against the yen following a verbal intervention by Japan. Japan’s Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said that Monday’s exchange rate moves were “one-sided” after the currency fell to 80.41; it’s lowest since April 1995. He added that the Japanese government was paying "grave attention" to market developments.
But the dollar tumbled after disappointing U.S. data released Friday seemed to underline expectations of further easing ahead of next weeks meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.
U.S. GDP rose at an annual rate of 2.0% in the third quarter, in line with expectations, after rising 1.7% in the second quarter. However the real final sales component - the measure of demand in the U.S. - rose by only 0.6%. That was down from 0.9% in the second quarter and 1.1% in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, the University of Michigan consumer-sentiment index unexpectedly fell to 67.7 in October. Economists had expected the index to rise to 68.0.
Next weeks economic calendar contains events capable of shaping currency markets for several weeks to come, with the Fed's November 2-3 FOMC meeting and U.S. nonfarm payrolls. In addition, the U.S. is to release key weekly data on initial jobless claims as well as data on pending home sales and reports on manufacturing and service sector growth.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is to announce its benchmark interest rate.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets. The guide skips Tuesday as there are no relevant events on this day.
Monday, November 1
The U.S. will begin the week by publishing official data on personal income as well as data on personal spending, which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity. The country is also to publish industry data on manufacturing, a leading indicator of economic health.
The Bank of Japan is to publish the minutes of the most recent meeting of its monetary policy committee. The minutes provide an in-depth insight into the economic conditions that influenced the decision on where to set interest rates.
Wednesday, November 3
The U.S. is to publish a key monthly report on ADP non-farm employment change, which leads government data by two days. The country is also to publish industry data on service sector growth.
In addition, the Federal Reserve is to announce its benchmark interest rate. The announcement will be followed by the heavily anticipated FOMC rate statement.
Meanwhile, markets in Japan will remain closed for a Bank Holiday.
Thursday, November 4
The U.S. is to publish key weekly data on initial jobless claims, the nation’s earliest economic data and a leading indicator of overall economic health. The country is also to publish quarterly data on non-farm productivity and labor costs, both leading inflationary indicators.
Friday, November 5
The Bank of Japan is to announce its benchmark interest rate and publish its monetary policy statement, which will be followed by a closely watched press conference.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is to round up the week with data on non-farm employment change and a report on the country's unemployment rate. The country will also release official data on pending home sales, while Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is due to deliver a speech at a public engagement. His comments will be closely scrutinized for any clues to the future direction of monetary policy.