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Japanese Yen languishes despite wholesale inflation accelerates in May

  • USD/JPY steadies as the Japanese Yen receives no support after May wholesale inflation rose to a three-year high of 6.3%.
  • Surging factory-gate inflation solidifies market expectations for an imminent hawkish interest rate pivot by the Bank of Japan.
  • The US Dollar may regain ground on safe-haven demand after Iran’s IRGC claimed drone attacks on the US Fifth Fleet.

USD/JPY flatlines after experiencing volatility, trading around 160.40 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The pair continues to hold its ground, reflecting a struggling Japanese Yen (JPY) that has failed to find support despite a massive acceleration in wholesale inflation. Driven by surging energy costs linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict, Japan’s Producer Price Index (PPI) jumped 6.3% year-over-year in May. This hot printing comfortably outpaced April’s upwardly revised 5.3% figure and surpassed market consensus of 5.5%, marking the fastest pace of wholesale price growth in three years.

This dramatic uptick in Japan’s factory-gate inflation has solidified market expectations for a hawkish pivot from the Bank of Japan (BoJ). With policymakers highly sensitive to the double-whammy of a sharply depreciating JPY and rising import costs, the central bank is widely expected to lift interest rates at its policy meeting next week. Traders are now closely parsing every signal from BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda, as aggressive market speculation builds for consecutive rate hikes in September and December to rein in stubborn price pressures.

The USD/JPY pair may further appreciate as the safe-haven demand could support the US Dollar (USD), which could be attributed to the renewed Middle East tensions. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it attacked the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain with drones in response to US strikes on areas in southern Iran. The IRGC warned of “a more severe response” if what it describes as US “aggression” continues.

Earlier, the US launched a third wave of retaliatory strikes on Iranian coastal targets on Wednesday after Iran fired at least three ballistic missiles from Isfahan. This followed an initial round of US strikes on Tuesday, which Washington called a proportional response to Iran downing a US helicopter gunship near the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Stronger-than-expected US May jobs data have boosted expectations of a Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike this year. Traders will take more cues from the US CPI report later in the day. The headline US CPI is expected to show a rise of 4.2% YoY in May, compared to 3.8% in April. The core CPI is projected to show an increase of 2.9% YoY during the same period, versus 2.8% prior.

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USD/CNH Price Forecast: More downside likely below 6.7500

  • USD/CNH trades marginally lower to near 6.7750 as the US Dollar edges down.
  • China’s CPI remains steady at 1.2% YoY in May, misses 1.3% estimates.
  • Investors await the US inflation data for May.

The USD/CNH pair trades slightly lower to near 6.7750 during the early European trading session on Wednesday. The pair faces selling pressure due to continued outperformance by the Chinese Yuan (CNY), being a trade surplus economy.

On Tuesday, China’s Trade Balance data for May also came in stronger than projected. Trade Balance arrived at $105.43 Billion, higher than the $92.1 Billion estimate and the previous reading of $84.82 Billion. Imports grew strongly by 27.4%, while they were anticipated to rise moderately by 25% vs. the prior release of 25.3%. While Exports rose 19.4% against expectations of 15% and the previous release of 14.1%.

Meanwhile, China’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for May has remained steady at an annualized pace of 1.2%, while it was expected to grow at a faster pace of 1.3%.

At press time, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which gauges the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, trades 0.12% lower to near 99.87 ahead of the United States (US) CPI data for May, which will be published at 12:30 GMT. The US headline inflation is expected to come in higher at 4.2% Year-on-Year (YoY) from 3.8% in April.

USD/CNH technical analysis

USD/CNH trades lower at around 6.7763, extending the downside bias as spot holds below the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 6.7867. The pair trading below this short-term average suggests sellers retain control, while the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 42 stays below the neutral 50 line, hinting at lingering bearish momentum rather than an oversold condition.

On the topside, immediate resistance is now aligned with the 20-day EMA at 6.7867, and a daily close above this barrier would be needed to ease current downside pressure and open the way for a more sustained recovery. On the downside, the pair could slide further towards 6.7500 if it falls below the June 2 low at 6.7580.

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British Pound gains ground to near 1.3400 ahead of US CPI release

  • GBP/USD gains traction to near 1.3390 in Wednesday’s early European session. 
  • Iranian officials warned Gulf states have a “legal and moral responsibility” to prevent US and Israeli strikes. 
  • The US May CPI inflation report will take center stage on Wednesday. 

The GBP/USD pair trades in positive territory around 1.3390 during the early European trading hours on Wednesday. Markets might turn cautious later in the day ahead of the US May Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report. On Friday, the monthly UK Gross Domestic Product data will be in the spotlight. 

Financial markets had expected the Bank of England (BoE) to cut interest rates twice this year to 3.25%. Since the US-Iran war began, the situation has reversed, and now a rise of 25 basis points (bpd) before December is projected, according to CNBC.

Nonetheless, the potential upside for the British Pound (GBP) might be limited as renewed tensions in the Middle East weigh on the riskier assets. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday warned that its neighbors in the Gulf have a “legal and moral responsibility” to prevent American and Israeli strikes. 

This statement came as the US launched retaliatory strikes against Iran on Tuesday in what it called a proportional response to the shooting down of a US helicopter gunship near the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier. 

The US CPI inflation report will be closely watched as it could give some hints about the US interest rate path. If the reports show hotter-than-expected outcomes, this could lead traders to price in a higher probability of the Federal Reserve (Fed) raising interest rates, which would provide some support to the USD against the GBP. 

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Offshore Yuan Remains Firm

The offshore yuan firmed to around 6.77 per dollar on Wednesday as investors assessed the latest inflation data and their implications for China’s economic outlook. Consumer inflation rose 1.2% annually in May 2026, slightly below expectations of 1.3%, indicating that weak household demand continued to offset inflationary pressures from higher global energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, producer prices climbed to 3.9% from 2.8% in April and marking the highest reading since July 2022. The increase extended the recovery from China’s long producer-price deflation period, driven largely by higher commodity and energy costs. While China has cushioned part of the energy shock through its strategic oil reserves and renewable energy capacity, persistent cost pressures could squeeze corporate profit margins. A broader pass-through to consumer prices could also erode household consumption, although weak domestic demand has so far limited such spillovers.

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Euro: Safe haven appeal grows with structural boosters – BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas strategists argue that Europe is emerging as an alternative safe haven, with the Euro gaining ground as a global safe asset. They note that the European Central Bank’s (ECB) work highlights stronger demand for Euro assets and a higher convenience yield on German bunds, which supports broader Eurozone financing conditions. They stress Europe’s industrial resilience, services strength, tech momentum and improving policy and geopolitical backdrop.

Euro benefits from haven re-rating

“All this turmoil has already made Europe look more attractive, as a haven of stability.”

“Last week, the ECB’s annual report on The International Role of the Euro revealed that the euro is catching up as the world’s safe asset of choice.”

“On multiple occasions, during recent episodes of market turmoil, the euro behaved more like a safe asset than the US dollar.”

“Financial markets have noticed: the so-called convenience yield[2] on German bunds rose threefold from 30 bps to 90 over 2023-25.”

“To the extent that all other bonds (sovereign and private) in euros are priced off German bunds, this benefits the entire Eurozone economy.”

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Chart of The Day – USD/NOK

Monday’s rise in energy commodity prices proved short-lived, weighing further on the Norwegian currency. The USDNOK pair is approaching the 9.50 level, which was last seen two months ago. Aside from headlines coming out of the Middle East, tomorrow’s scheduled releases of May inflation data from both Norway and the US should take center stage for the pair.

Geopolitics

The weekend exchange of fire between Israel and Iran has cast doubt on the fragile ceasefire currently in place across the region. Under pressure from Washington, both sides halted further strikes. However, the situation remains highly uncertain, which could sustain high volatility in the prices of key energy commodities.

Macroeconomic Data

Tomorrow’s readings are expected to show core inflation remaining unchanged at 3.2%, alongside a slight decline in the headline figure to 3.1% in Norway. An upside surprise could raise expectations for further monetary policy tightening by Norges Bank. As a reminder, the central bank delivered its first interest rate hike since 2023 back in May, reacting to rapidly rising inflation expectations, persistently elevated wage growth, and the concerning stickiness of core inflation. Meanwhile, the headline CPI figure in the United States is expected to edge upward to 4.2%. The consensus also forecasts a modest increase in the core metric to 2.9%. Investors have already fully priced in a Fed rate hike for 2026. A further build-up of price pressures could increase the likelihood of this hike occurring as early as this autumn.

Technical Analysis

Chart 1: USDNOK (01.07.2025 – 09.06.2026)

Source: xStation, 09.06.2026

After establishing a new local low at the 9.13 level, a strong and aggressive demand-driven rebound ensued. The first two key technical resistance levels have been broken. The price has approached the 50% Fibonacci retracement level, which could serve as a crucial test for the ongoing upward trend. The strong momentum of the move is reflected in technical indicators. The RSI is currently hovering around 67 points, signaling that the market is gradually entering overbought territory, which could trigger a temporary pause in momentum.

Key Levels to Watch:

  • To the Upside: If buyers manage to sustain the price above the tested 50% Fibo level, the next natural target for the market could be the 9.56 level, where both the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement and the 100 EMA coincide.
  • To the Downside: Conversely, a sustained rejection of the current resistance level would mean anticipating a return to the primary trend and a retest of lower support levels.
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GBP/USD Price Forecast: Overall trend appears sideways amid Triangle formation

  • GBP/USD rises to near 1.3375 as the US Dollar corrects sharply.
  • US President Trump sees a total victory over Iran in the next two weeks.
  • Investors await the US CPI data for May and the UK GDP data for April.

The GBP/USD pair trades 0.26% higher at around 1.3375 during the European trading session on Tuesday. The Cable gains as the US Dollar (USD) declines amid expectations that the United States (US) could reach a deal with Iran soon.

US Dollar Price Today

The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the weakest against the New Zealand Dollar.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD-0.12%-0.20%-0.03%-0.14%-0.26%-0.54%-0.20%
EUR0.12%-0.06%0.09%-0.02%-0.11%-0.40%-0.06%
GBP0.20%0.06%0.17%0.06%-0.07%-0.32%0.00%
JPY0.03%-0.09%-0.17%-0.11%-0.22%-0.50%-0.16%
CAD0.14%0.02%-0.06%0.11%-0.11%-0.37%-0.05%
AUD0.26%0.11%0.07%0.22%0.11%-0.26%0.06%
NZD0.54%0.40%0.32%0.50%0.37%0.26%0.32%
CHF0.20%0.06%-0.01%0.16%0.05%-0.06%-0.32%

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).

As of writing, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, trades 0.17% lower to near 99.83.

On late Monday, US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that a “total victory” on Iran can be announced in two weeks, adding it would lead to a sharp decline in oil prices. The statement from Trump came after Iran agreed to halt attacking the Israeli territory, which led to a sharp decline in oil prices.

The US Dollar has outperformed in the past few months as elevated oil prices due to the energy supply crisis prompted the US inflation and hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) bets.

The appeal of currencies from economies, such as the United Kingdom (UK), which rely heavily on oil imports to meet their energy needs, improves when oil prices start falling.

Going forward, investors will focus on the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for May and the UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for April, which will be released on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.

GBP/USD technical analysis

GBP/USD trades higher at around 1.3375 at the press time. However, the near-term tone remains bearish as it holds below the 20-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which is at 1.3428. The pair sits between an upward support trend line break around 1.3312 and the reclaimed downward resistance trend line reference at 1.3593, exhibiting a broader sideways trend. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) near 42 leans soft, hinting that downside pressure persists even if not yet overstretched.

On the topside, initial resistance is located at the 20-EMA around 1.3430, and a sustained break above this barrier would open the way toward the former downtrend resistance line reference near 1.3590. On the downside, immediate support emerges at the prior uptrend support break zone around 1.3301, and a drop below there would expose lower levels. The major support area would be the April 7 low at 1.3217, followed by the March 31 low at 1.3159.

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Japanese Yen: May weaken toward 160.75 against US Dollar – UOB

UOB’s Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann describe USD/JPY as range-bound intraday between 159.90 and 160.40 after a brief spike and reversal, but maintain a slightly positive multi-day stance. They see upward momentum building tentatively, with the pair likely to rise gradually toward 160.75 while strong support at 159.60 defines the risk, and longer term highlight scope to test the top of a rising wedge near 161.15.

Dollar Yen bias remains mildly positive

“24-HOUR VIEW: The following are excerpts from our update yesterday: “The slight increase in upward momentum suggests that USD is likely to edge higher to 160.50. The major resistance at 160.75 is unlikely to come under threat. Support is at 160.05; a breach of 159.95 would suggest that the current mild upward pressure has eased.” The subsequent price movements turned out differently than we expected. USD edged to a high of 160.39, dropped to 159.87 before rebounding quickly to close largely unchanged at 160.17 (-0.07%). The price action provides no fresh clues. Today, USD could trade between 159.90 and 160.40.”

“1-3 WEEKS VIEW: We revised our view to slightly positive yesterday (08 Jun, spot at 160.25). We highlighted that “upward momentum is building, albeit tentatively.” We also highlighted that USD “could rise gradually, and the level to watch is 160.75.” There is no change in our view. On the downside, a breach of 159.60 (no change in ‘strong support’ level) would mean that upward momentum has faded.”