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- AUD/JPY retreats from a nearly two-month high set on Tuesday amid notable JPY strength.
- Bets that the BoJ will hike interest rates again in 2025 continue to act as a tailwind for the JPY.
- Trade optimism and reduced bets for aggressive RBA rate cuts could limit losses for the cross.
The AUD/JPY cross attracts some sellers during the Asian session on Wednesday, and for now, it seems to have snapped a two-day winning streak to the 95.65 area, or a nearly two-month high touched the previous day. Spot prices currently trade around the 95.15 region, down nearly 0.30% for the day amid a broadly stronger Japanese Yen (JPY).
Bank of Japan (BoJ) Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida reiterated on Tuesday that the central bank will keep raising interest rates if the economy and prices improve as projected. This comes on top of fears of broader, more entrenched price increases in Japan and backs the case for further policy normalization by the BoJ, which acts as a tailwind for the JPY and exerts some pressure on the AUD/JPY cross.
The Australian Dollar (AUD), on the other hand, draws support from a hotter-than-expected domestic Wage Price Index. Adding to this, the de-escalation of the US-China trade war tempers bets for more aggressive rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Apart from this, a softer US Dollar (USD) benefits the AUD and holds back traders from placing aggressive bearish bets around the AUD/JPY cross.
The aforementioned fundamental backdrop supports prospects for the emergence of some dip-buyers at lower levels, warranting some caution before confirming that spot prices have topped out in the near term. Traders now look forward to the release of the crucial monthly employment report from Australia during the Asian session on Thursday, which should provide a fresh impetus to the AUD/JPY cross.
