USD/JPY selloff loses steam around support, bounce incoming? Dec 4, 2024

Having fallen over 5% from the November high already, the two days of indecision around support alongside a bullish divergence suggest USD/JPY could be vulnerable to some bullish mean reversion.

By : Matt Simpson, Market Analyst

USD/JPY technical analysis:

Since the November high, USD/JPY has fallen over 5% and printed just three bullish candles over the past 12. That alone suggests the move lower may be nearing an inflection point, but there are other clues too. A second consecutive doji formed on Tuesday, and both printed daily closes just above the August high and October VPOC (volume point of control). Bullish divergences have also formed on the daily and 4-hour RSIs in the oversold zone.

While there is no immediate indication of a price action low, I suspect one could be close. What I would ideally like to see now is evidence of a higher low on the 4-hour chart (or even the 1-hour chart) to indicate a trough has formed, in anticipation of some bullish mean reversion to at least 151. Also note the weekly pivot point (151.3) and monthly pivot point (151.99) and of course the 152 handle near the 200-day SMA, which could also make a viable target for bulls over the near term.

Click the website link below to get our exclusive Guide to USD/JPY trading in Q4 2024.

Economic events in focus (AEDT)

If this week’s domestic data is anything to go by, Australia’s GDP could come in slightly soft. With that said, the consensus estimate is for growth to have risen 0.5% q/q (up from 0.2% in Q2) and 1.1% y/y up from 1%). In either case, I doubt it will move the needle much for the RBA who seem poised to keep rates at 4.35%.

  • 09:00 – AU construction, manufacturing and services index (AIG)
  • 11:00 – AU Q3 GDP, commodity prices, capital expenditure
  • 11:30 – JP services PMI
  • 12:45 – CN manufacturing PMI (Caixin)
  • 19:55 – DE PMIs (final)
  • 20:00 – BOE Bailey speaks
  • 01:45 – US PMIs (final)
  • 02:00 – US ISM non-manufacturing PMI, durable goods orders
  • 02:30 – ECB President Lagarde speaks

View the full economic calendar

– Written by Matt Simpson

Follow Matt on Twitter @cLeverEdge

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1 Like

Great analysis. Can you explain the D1 high-Low Range column, say for JPY/USD? What is the 103.6% telling us?

100% = the average daily range of the past 10 days. JPY/USD was slightly above its ATR, but not by a significant amount - therefore it could be considered a typical day. Where it becomes useful is if we see multiple markets far exceeding their ATR’s. Traders in Asia can get a quick snapshot of sentiment of the previous day, and ask themselves if they think these moves are more likely to be extended or mean revert. - MS

So just exceeding or anything away from 100%, so higher or lower?

Like EURUSD, range is 55% of the average of the last 10 days. Actually, that means less/smaller trading range on average, so probably less opportunity.

So exceed is best. Do I have that right?

Yes that’s correct - 55% of its 10-day ATR is a small-ranged day. One way for a trader to potentially interpret this, is to be on guard for ‘range expansion’ from the small range day. We know that NFP is later in the week, for example. And the fact that multiple markets were beneath their ATRs tells us it was not an eventful day. It really serves as a quick glance for traders to asses sentiment of the prior session. - MS

Is the data above for the US current day, so Asia traders will see that as yesterday’s data (Tuesday), while US traders could read that now and apply it to tomorrow (Wednesday)? Or I guess now if they stay up and trade Sydney/Tokyo?

Thanks so much!

Data shows the full 24-hour day, starting in Asia and ending at the US close- MS

1 Like

Okay cool, that makes sense. Thanks!