See also
The price test at 144.27 occurred when the MACD indicator had already moved significantly above the zero line, but the strong U.S. labor market data offered a high probability of the dollar strengthening against the yen, which I decided to take advantage of. As a result, the pair rose toward the target level of 145.06.
The confident growth in U.S. non-farm employment recorded in May exceeded experts' expectations, causing noticeable fluctuations in currency markets. The publication of data showing the creation of 139,000 new jobs versus the forecasted 127,000 instantly strengthened the U.S. dollar, putting pressure on the Japanese yen. The yen's reaction to the news was immediate: the currency weakened significantly against the dollar. Investors perceived the data as a signal of the strength of the U.S. economy and the likely continuation of the Federal Reserve's tight monetary policy. Furthermore, the stable unemployment rate in the U.S., recorded at 4.2%, also reinforced the market's optimistic sentiment.
Today's data shows that Japan's GDP for the first quarter was revised upward, which helped the yen recover slightly from Friday's losses against the U.S. dollar. However, despite the positive revisions, Japan's economy still faces serious challenges. Weak domestic demand and an aging population continue to pressure growth, while geopolitical uncertainty poses additional obstacles. The Bank of Japan maintains a wait-and-see approach and has no plans to raise interest rates for now, which had previously provided good support to the yen. Strong growth in bank lending also contributed to increased demand for the yen.
For intraday strategy, I will focus primarily on implementing Scenarios #1 and #2.
Scenario #1: Today, I plan to buy USD/JPY if the entry point around 144.61 (green line) is reached, with a target to rise to 145.06 (thicker green line on the chart). Around 145.06, I plan to exit long positions and immediately open short positions (targeting a 30-35 pip move in the opposite direction). It's best to return to buying the pair during corrections and significant pullbacks in USD/JPY. Important! Before buying, ensure the MACD indicator is above the zero line and just beginning its upward movement from it.
Scenario #2: I also plan to buy USD/JPY today in case of two consecutive tests of the 144.28 level when the MACD indicator is in the oversold area. This will limit the downside potential of the pair and lead to an upward market reversal. Growth can be expected toward the opposite levels of 144.61 and 145.06.
Scenario #1: I plan to sell USD/JPY today only after breaking below 144.28 (red line on the chart), which will lead to a quick decline in the pair. The key target for sellers will be the 143.88 level, where I plan to exit short positions and immediately open long positions (targeting a 20-25 pip move in the opposite direction). Selling pressure on the pair may return quickly today. Important! Before selling, make sure the MACD indicator is below the zero line and just beginning its downward movement from it.
Scenario #2: I also plan to sell USD/JPY today in case of two consecutive tests of the 144.61 level when the MACD indicator is in the overbought area. This will limit the upside potential of the pair and lead to a downward market reversal. A decline can be expected toward the opposite levels of 144.28 and 143.88.