Forex - USD/JPY weekly outlook: April 8 - 12

Investing.com - The dollar extended sharp gains into a second session against the yen on Friday, as aggressive new monetary easing measures from the Bank of Japan overshadowed Friday’s weaker-than-forecast U.S. jobs data.

USD/JPY hit session highs of 97.83, the pair’s highest since June 2009, before settling at 97.53, 1.25% higher for the day and jumping 4.45% for the week.

The pair is likely to find support at 95.73, Friday’s low and resistance at 98.88, the high of June 5, 2009.

The yen dropped more than 3% against the dollar on Thursday after the BoJ said it plans to double its asset purchase program over the next two years and extend the maturities of the bonds it purchases.

The central bank, under the leadership of new Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, plans to expand its asset purchase program to JPY7 trillion per month and include 10-year government bonds, real estate investment trusts and exchange trade funds.

The measures are aimed at spurring growth and combating deflation in the world’s third-largest economy.

The yen was also sharply lower against the euro, with EUR/JPY advancing to session highs of 127.30, the pair’s highest since February 7, before settling at 126.83, up 1.79% for the day and 5.59% higher for the week.

In the U.S., Friday’s weaker-than-forecast U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for March fuelled fears that the recovery in the labor market is losing momentum.

The Department of Labor said the U.S. economy added 88,000 jobs last month, the smallest increase since last June and far below forecasts for an increase of 200,000. The U.S. unemployment rate ticked down to 7.6% from 7.7% in February.

In the week ahead, investors will be awaiting Wednesday’s minutes of the Federal Reserve’s March policy meeting, amid speculation over when the central bank may begin to wind down its asset purchase program.

Market participants will also be watching U.S. data on retail sales and consumer sentiment on Friday in an attempt to gauge the strength of the U.S. economic recovery.

Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.

Monday, April 8

Japan is to release official data on the current account, which is linked to currency demand.

Tuesday, April 9

The BoJ is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy meeting. The minutes give investors important insights into economic conditions from the bank’s perspective.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is to speak; his comments will be closely watched for indications of the future possible direction of monetary policy.

Wednesday, April 10

The Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy meeting. The minutes give investors important insights into economic conditions from the bank’s perspective.

The U.S. is also to release government data on the federal budget balance.

Thursday, April 11

Japan is to produce official data on core machinery orders, a leading indicator of production.

The U.S. is to publish the weekly government report on initial jobless claims and official data on import prices.

Friday, April 12

Japan is to release official data on tertiary industry activity, a leading economic indicator.

The U.S. is to round up the week with official data on retail sale, producer price inflation and business inventories, as well as preliminary data from the University of Michigan on consumer sentiment.