Major FX traded in small ranges only for the session, except for yen crosses. USD/JPY dropped initially to circa 130.75 before rallying back above 131.25. As I update its back under 131.20. USD/JPY movements dragged around other yen crosses. There were a few minor items out of Japan, it doesn’t take much to induce volatility in the yen at present.

One item out of Japan I will highlight was the report by NHK (Japan broadcast media) that there will be "Government-Labor-Management" wage talks in March aimed at boosting pay. The Bank of Japan has often stated that wage increases are necessary to convert the current cost-push inflation into demand-pull inflation. If accomplished, it claims, this would result in more stable and long-lasting inflation at or near its target level.

US President Biden delivered his State of the Union (SOTU) address, which didn’t move markets much at all.

Asian equity markets:

  • Japan’s Nikkei 225 -0.4% (Nintendo and Softbank posted disappointing results)

  • China’s Shanghai Composite -0.05%

  • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng +0.35%

  • South Korea’s KOSPI +1.4%

  • Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 +0.4%

usdyen jpy wrap chart 08 February 2023

(This chart is from our charting app, which is free and can be found at this link)