• USD/JPY gains positive traction for the second straight day and inches closer to the weekly high.
• The widening US-Japan yields differential, and the risk-on impulse undermine the safe-haven JPY.
• Bulls now seem to wait for sustained strength beyond the 134.00 mark before placing fresh bets.

The USD/JPY pair catches fresh bids near the 132.30-132.25 region and steadily climbs back closer to the weekly high set earlier this Wednesday. The pair is currently trading around the 133.65-133.70 area, up nearly 0.40% for the day and is supported by a combination of factors.

A further rise in the US Treasury bond yields, bolstered by the overnight hawkish remarks by several Fed officials, widens the US-Japan rate differential. This, along with the risk-on impulse, undermines the safe-haven Japanese yen and pushes the USD/JPY higher for the second successive day.

Looking at the broader picture, the post-FOMC sharp downfall stalled on Tuesday near the 130.40-130.35 confluence support. The mentioned area comprises the 100-day SMA and the 50% Fibonacci retracement level of the April-July rally, which should now act as a pivotal point for the USD/JPY pair.

Bullish traders, meanwhile, might wait for some follow-through buying beyond the 134.00 mark before positioning for any further gains. The USD/JPY pair could then climb to the 134.75 intermediate hurdle en-route to the 135.00 psychological mark and the 23.6% Fibo. level, around the 135.15 region.

On the flip side, the 38.2% Fibo. level, around the 132.50 area, now seems to protect the immediate downside ahead of the 132.00 round figure and the 131.65-131.60 region. Failure to defend the said support levels could make the USD/JPY pair vulnerable to sliding back below the 131.00 mark.

The downward trajectory could further get extended towards the 130.40-130.35 confluence support. A convincing break below the latter would be seen as a fresh trigger for bears and set the stage for an extension of the recent corrective slide from the 24-year peak touched on July 14.

USD/JPY daily chart

Key levels to watch