Information About the Japanese Yen

Over 40% of Japan’s economic activity is from exports, and in general, the Japanese government prefers the Yen to remain weak in order to boost export sales overseas. Because of this, the Bank of Japan (the country’s central bank) adopts measures to maintain the competitiveness of Japanese companies overseas by keeping its currency at a certain weak level. The Yen is a hub for the direction of most other Asian currencies. For example, should there be rumours that the Chinese Yuan will face government revaluation, the move will be mirrored by the Japanese Yen, which will move in the same direction. The savings rate is also high in Japan at 15%, compared to the savings rate in the United States which stands at -1%. This informs us that Japanese asset managers and banks are in possession of a larger amount of funds that they can invest. There are several different important economic data reports issued from Japan, including interest rate decisions published by the Bank of Japan, the Tankan Report, the Domestic Corporate Goods Price Index, and the Tokyo area CPI.

Facts About the United States Dollar

The US Dollar has a very specific and unique function within the world of international finance. This currency is the most commonly accepted for global reserves, and is frequently used in the settlement of international financial transactions. Central banks all over the world hold a large amount of their foreign currency reserves in this currency, and numerous small countries prefer to adopt the US Dollar instead of using a currency of their own, or at the very least peg their own currency to the US Dollar. Gold prices are set in US Dollars, as are the prices of numerous other popular commodities, and the American Dollar is also the currency chosen when OPEC countries conduct oil transactions. All of these varied factors contribute to the US Dollar’s status as the world’s most important currency, as well as being the most frequently traded currency in the world. Most foreign currencies trade against the US Dollar more often than any other currency pairing. All keen Forex traders should therefore take the time to gain a greater understanding of the various factors that are driving forces in the American economy before embarking upon their first trade.

Which Factors Affect the Dollar to Yen Pairing?

There are several factors that affect the Japanese Yen to US Dollar pairing. These include the following:

• The economies of both countries – The currency pair functions in correspondence to the Japanese and US economies’ relationship to each other, and also in a lesser way to how well the Asian economies are doing in relation to the US economy. When there is economic upset within the United States, the Yen will see a rise, whereas when the situation is reversed, of course the US Dollar will rise. Usually, both the Yen and the Dollar are from significant enough economies that they will only be influenced by major economic and global events.

• The Import/Export Balance in Japan – Generally the USD/JPY pairing tends to incline towards the US Dollar when Japan imports more than it exports, as the Japanese economy will weaken when it buys more than it sells. Japan is one of the world’s major exporters, and therefore its trading exploits are always important in terms of the US Dollar/Japanese Yen’s growth.
• National Disasters – Japan’s economy is uniquely affected by national disasters because of the country’s size. On the whole, the United States’ economy is not so affected by any natural disaster which may befall the country.
• Slow growth of the Yen – The Yen is a slow-growing currency in a period of stagnation, and is usually outpaced by the US economy. This trend is likely to continue, and for some time now the Yen has had a downward trend in relation to the Dollar.
• Government intervention – The Japanese government is working hard on adopting numerous initiatives to improve the country’s economy. It is therefore essential to pay attention to the actions of the country’s government if you wish to invest in this market, as these initiatives may alter the currency’s course significantly through the adjustment of interest rates.

Benefits of Trading the USD/JPY Pairing

There are numerous benefits of choosing to trade this currency pairing, which accounts for why this is such a popular choice among Forex traders:

• Popularity and Market Volume – The USD/JPY pairing has very high market volume, and as it is very popular it is supported by almost every broker and market.
  • Opportunities for profit – This pairing is characterised by extended times of stability together with volatility, creating potential for investors. Volatility within this pairing is usually driven by market forces in Asia, and this makes the USD/JPY pairing a gateway currency to the east.
• Lower spreads – The US Dollar/Japanese Yen pairing is popular thanks to its low spreads. Fees for trading these currencies are also pretty low, which results in better profits. High liquidity with this pairing means that trading is quick and cheap.
• Predictability in trading patterns – This market is linked with Japanese commodity trading, making it simpler to predict the currency moves. Investors should look to the current export and important global market to spot potential strategies for trading.

It should be noted that there are some challenges when trading this pair. The Yen sometimes fluctuates rapidly as it is a closed economy, and if a natural disaster affects the country, the devastation of the nation’s economy can be decisive and rapid, making trading this pairing a little risky.