USDJPY trade idea

USDJPY trade idea

Forex
Junvum Kim

Sales Trader

Summary:  Monetary policy divergence between US and JP remains sufficiently wide giving attractive carry trade while recent developments from BOJ with weak policy tweak with treasury bonds seem to face headwinds post US credit downgrade.


Key events that moved USDJPY

  • It has been a week since BOJ tweaked the YCC – enhancing the sustainability of monetary easing – allowing greater flexibility with 10 year JGB yields capped to 1%.  
  • BOJ announced two unscheduled debt-purchase operations as 10 year JGB hits 0.65%, nine year high.
  • Fitch’s US credit downgrade two days ago joining S&P that had already downgraded back in 2011.
  • Size of quarterly bond sales from US Treasury was raised for the first time in two and a half years for financing a rise in budget deficits potentially further exacerbating yield to stay bid.
  • *BOJ'S UCHIDA: BOJ TO LIMIT EXCESSIVE RISE IN YIELDS
  • Ackman short long end (30y) vs Buffet long short end (3m or 6m) indicating steepening of the yield curve and in fact 5y30y already in positive territory unlike 3m10y and 2y10y that are deeply inverted at -120bps and -70bps respectively.
  • Real yields AKA TIPS yield ascending with 30y to nearly 2%, highest since 2011 and 10y to 1.8%
  • Price action of USDJPY & US 10 year yield (nominal) show 0.5 correlation based on weekly data over 2 years.  

1 year yield 5.63 beats 3m treasury bills and 98% of S&P500’s high dividend stocks but behind high yield corporate yield (HYG) 8.4%.

Forward Curve

Dates

Points Bid/Ask

Forwards Bid/Ask

Yield

ON

08/07/2023

(7.03)

(6.17)

142.71

142.72

0.05%

TN

08/08/2023

(2.28)

(2.18)

142.65

142.65

0.02%

SP

08/08/2023

142.63

142.63

142.63

142.63

-1.00%

SN

08/09/2023

(2.29)

(2.16)

142.61

142.61

0.02%

1W

08/15/2023

(15.62)

(15.30)

142.47

142.48

0.11%

2W

08/22/2023

(31.24)

(30.63)

142.32

142.32

0.22%

3W

08/29/2023

(46.67)

(46.19)

142.16

142.17

0.33%

1M

09/08/2023

(68.92)

(68.46)

141.94

141.95

0.48%

2M

10/10/2023

(141.11)

(140.20)

141.22

141.23

0.99%

3M

11/08/2023

(205.92)

(204.83)

140.57

140.58

1.44%

4M

12/08/2023

(273.55)

(271.71)

139.89

139.91

1.92%

5M

01/09/2024

(356.34)

(352.76)

139.07

139.10

2.50%

6M

02/08/2024

(422.37)

(419.16)

138.41

138.44

2.96%

9M

05/08/2024

(617.32)

(612.84)

136.46

136.50

4.33%

1Y

08/08/2024

(802.72)

(796.49)

134.60

134.67

5.63%

15M

11/08/2024

(973.13)

(961.45)

132.90

133.02

6.82%

18M

02/10/2025

(1,139.38)

(1,124.92)

131.24

131.38

7.99%

2Y

08/08/2025

(1,405.24)

(1,385.82)

128.58

128.77

9.85%

3Y

08/10/2026

(1,899.43)

(1,874.88)

123.64

123.88

13.31%

4Y

08/09/2027

(2,357.23)

(2,319.40)

119.06

119.44

16.52%

5Y

08/08/2028

(2,786.40)

(2,748.11)

114.77

115.15

19.53%

6Y

08/08/2029

(3,190.02)

(3,146.29)

110.73

111.17

22.36%

7Y

08/08/2030

(3,563.53)

(3,518.58)

106.99

107.44

24.98%

8Y

08/08/2031

(3,911.13)

(3,841.19)

103.52

104.22

27.41%

9Y

08/09/2032

(4,250.14)

(4,165.55)

100.13

100.97

29.79%

10Y

08/08/2033

(4,556.79)

(4,465.35)

97.06

97.98

31.94%

15Y

08/09/2038

(5,872.75)

(5,836.79)

83.90

84.26

41.16%

20Y

08/10/2043

(6,864.78)

(6,814.06)

73.98

74.49

48.11%

25Y

08/10/2048

(7,632.94)

(7,573.87)

66.30

66.89

53.50%

30Y

08/08/2053

(8,229.73)

(8,163.23)

60.33

61.00

57.68%

  

Trade

Strategically Long USDJPY (either spot or forward) - buy the rips or buy the dips - as long as monetary differential between US and JP remains sufficiently wide giving attractive carry trade while recent developments from BOJ with weak policy tweak with treasury bonds seem to face headwinds post credit downgrade, however downside risk may be any black swan events that usually bring demand for yen as a safehaven.
Tactically and ideally 138 handle needs to hold and clear breakout over the downtrend (from Oct 2022 high) would open further upside momentum in the anticipation of retesting 150 handle.

US yield curve with long end rising last one week
Japan yield curve steepening particularly 15y onwards to the same magnitude to the US yields (10y+)
25 delta risk reversal all yen favoured as usual and showing 3m is cheapest for USD call

Quarterly Outlook

01 /

  • Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    The Fed started the US rate cut cycle in Q3 and in this macro outlook we will explore how the rate c...
  • Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Quarterly Outlook

    Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    After a period of historically high equity index concentration driven by the 'Magnificent Seven' sto...
  • FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    As we enter the final quarter of 2024, currency markets are set for heightened turbulence due to US ...
  • Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperfo...
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynami...
  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore the "two-lane economy," European equities, energy commodities, and the impact of US fiscal p...
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Quarterly Outlook

    Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain ...
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities i...

Disclaimer

The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-gb/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

Saxo
40 Bank Street, 26th floor
E14 5DA
London
United Kingdom

Contact Saxo

Select region

United Kingdom
United Kingdom

Trade Responsibly
All trading carries risk. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. Read more
Additional Key Information Documents are available in our trading platform.

Saxo is a registered Trading Name of Saxo Capital Markets UK Ltd (‘Saxo’). Saxo is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Firm Reference Number 551422. Registered address: 26th Floor, 40 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DA. Company number 7413871. Registered in England & Wales.

This website, including the information and materials contained in it, are not directed at, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity who is a citizen or resident of or located in the United States, Belgium or any other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to applicable law or regulation.

It is important that you understand that with investments, your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. It is your responsibility to ensure that you make an informed decision about whether or not to invest with us. If you are still unsure if investing is right for you, please seek independent advice. Saxo assumes no liability for any loss sustained from trading in accordance with a recommendation.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

©   since 1992