USD/JPY and AUD/USD Outlook Bearish as Trade War Fears Resurface

Asia Pacific Market Open Talking Points

• The Japanese Yen rose as USD/JPY showed increasing signs of a reversal
• US-China trade war fears resurfaced as S&P 500, Emerging Markets fell
• Sentiment-linked Australian Dollar may depreciate on Caixin China PMI

Find out what the #1 mistake that traders make is and how you can fix it!

Japanese Yen Gains as Australian Dollar Sinks, US-China Trade War Fears Resurface

The anti-risk Japanese Yen outperformed as the sentiment-linked Australian Dollar tumbled on Thursday amid a distinct deterioration in market mood. During the European session, China was said to have doubted the possibility of long-term trade deal with the United States, unwilling to budge on key large structural changes. This undermines the recently agreed “phase one” deal the two sides reached earlier this month.

During the US session, risk appetite further deteriorated on disappointing economic data. The Chicago Business Activity PMI report clocked in at 43.2 in October versus 48.0 expected and 47.1 in August. For PMI surveys, readings under 50 indicate increasingly contracting economic conditions. In today’s case, this was the softest outcome since 2015 despite hopes of a US-China trade deal rising this month.

The haven-linked US Dollar was little changed on opposing fundamental forces; rising Fed rate cut bets versus the demand for safe and liquid assets. The latter sent the S&P 500 lower as it struggled to sustain recently achieved record highs. Risk aversion spread offshores as well, with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index showing increasing signs of a top.

Friday’s Asia Pacific Trading Session

S&P 500 futures are now pointing lower heading into Friday’s Asia Pacific trading session, hinting that the pessimism from Wall Street may spread into regional markets. That may extend gains in the Japanese Yen while leaving the AUD/USD and NZD/USD vulnerable. Softening Caixin China Manufacturing PMI data later today risks further deteriorating investor confidence.

Japanese Yen Technical Analysis

USD/JPY tumbled the most in over two months following a Spinning Top that emerged earlier this week – as expected. This has brought the currency pair to the floor of a Rising Wedge formation, which is typically a bearish reversal formation. A breakout to the downside risks overturning the dominant JPY uptrend that has prevailed since the end of August.

Chart of the Day – USD/JPY Daily

Chart Created Using TradingView

FX Trading Resources

• See how the Yen is viewed by the trading community at the DailyFX Sentiment Page
• See our free guide to learn what are the long-term forces driving the US Dollar
• See our study on the history of trade wars to learn how it might influence financial markets!

--- Written by Daniel Dubrovsky, Currency Analyst for DailyFX.com

To contact Daniel, use the comments section below or @ddubrovskyFX on Twitter