"The uptrend in the USD/JPY is unlikely to be smooth and should endure occasional corrections. As seen in GPIF's December settlement, Japanese investors would support the USD/JPY at around ¥110 by dip-buying but are unlikely to be a driving force above ¥115. In the near term, if the rate fails to go beyond ¥115 if/when the Fed raises rates this month, the currency can be corrected down in disappointment. However, we stand by our view that the USD/ JPY will rise in line with US interest rates as long as the outlook for these risk scenarios remains relatively low.

....Our US economists expect the Fed to raise rates in March, June and September this year and another four times (once per quarter) in 2018. In our thoughts, the primary determinant of the course of the USD/JPY is the US economy and interest rates.

We expect the USD/JPY to move in line with our interest rate forecasts: it should try ¥115 with the March rate increase, solidify at ¥115-118 with the June hike, and burst through ¥120 with the September increase with discounting some additional hikes into 2018".

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