ForexLive Asia-Pacific FX news wrap: Yen moves higher to open the new year

  • Forex news for Asian trading on Tuesday, 3 January 2023

ICYMI, over the new year break was a story from Japan’s Nikkei:

The story played a role in sending the yen higher during the session. But it wasn’t one-way traffic.

Early in the session USD/JPY moved higher in a short time, rising to just shy of 131.40 in mere minutes. A lack of liquidity played a role, with Japanese and New Zealand markets closed for a holiday again. It was too early for most of Singapore and Hong Kong to have entered the forex market.

As more centres opened USD/JPY dropped away, and its not far from its session low as I update now, down more than 160 points from its early high. Quite the move for the Asian timezone.

USD/CAD had its own swings. The initial move for it was from under 1.3560 to just short of 1.3620 before dropping back to lows under 1.3550, where it is as I post. GBP, AUD and NZD traded similarly against the US dollar, lower initially before rallying sharply.

The Financial Times reported the EU is to send COVID vaccines to China for free, which helped the risk mood improve in the session. Chinese stocks (mainland and Hong Kong) opened lower but they have recovered to be positive for the session. The China December private survey (Caixin/Markit) manufacturing PMI remained in contraction for a 5th straight month. Some of the internals were more positive though, see bullets above.

Gold is up on the session.

usdyen wrap 03 January 2023

Top Brokers

Sponsored

General Risk Warning