ForexLive Asia-Pacific FX news wrap: Ranges subdued by widespread holidays in Asia |
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Core
consumer price index (CPI) in Tokyo, used as an early indicator of
nationwide figures due in around three weeks, rose 2.4% in March from
a year earlier, matching a median market estimate and slowing
slightly from a 2.5% gain in February. The other core measure,
referred to as core-core that excludes fresh food and energy costs,
and is interpreted as a broader price trend indicator, also slowed,
coming in at 2.9% in March from 3.1% in February. Despite
the slowing both
are still well
above the Bank
of Japan 2% target rate.
Separate
data on Japanese factory output showed a
fall vs the
rise expected.
If
there is encouragement to be taken from today’s Japan data it was found
in retail sales, these beat median forecasts and rose for a 24th
consecutive month. Put
above-target inflation together with better retail sales and the BOJ
stays on a tightening course, though its expected to be slow.
USD/JPY
responded by inching just a little higher. It had barely added 10 or
so tics in more than hour when Japan’s finance minister Suzuki
weighed in with regular verbal intervention. The rhetoric
from Suzuki and other officials has been taken up
to a more
forthright level. Suzuki today included mentions of:
rapid
FX moves
speculative moves
won’t rule out any steps to
respond to disorderly FX
USD/JPY
backed off from its earlier high.
In
other major FX moves were also subdued. We are heading towards the
next session with holidays in the UK and Europe. It’s a holiday
today also in the US and Canada, although we have Powell speaking and
inflation data released.
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