USD/JPY Price Analysis: Consolidates around 157.50 ahead of the weekend

• USD/JPY rises up 0.06%, but fails to break above 158.00.
• Bearish signals: RSI turning bearish, Chikou Span crossing below price action, and Tenkan-Sen crossing beneath Kijun-Sen.
• Key supports at 157.00, 156.00, and bottom of the Kumo at 155.50/60; further support at 155.37 and 155.00.
• Potential resistance at 157.50 and July 16 peak at 158.85 if buyers push the pair higher.

The USD/JPY edged up during the North American session, gaining a decent 0.06% as traders failed to push the exchange rate above 158.00. At the time of writing, the major consolidates in the middle of a 90-pip range and trades at 157.44.

USD/JPY Price Analysis: Technical outlook

The USD/JPY trades subdued ahead of the weekend, but momentum remains on the sellers’ side. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) turning bearish and the Chikou Span crossing below price action, were the first two signals of further weakness. This and the Tenkan-Sen crossing beneath the Kijun-Sen could push prices below the Ichimoku Cloud (Kumo).

If USD/JPY drops below 157.00, that will exert downward pressure on the pair and push prices toward 156.00, ahead of piercing the bottom of the Kumo at 155.50/60. Once those two levels are surpassed, the next demand zone would be the July 18 low of 155.37 ahead of 155.00. A further downside is below that level, exposing the May 16 swing low of 153.61, followed by the May 2 pivot low at 151.87, ahead of testing the 151.00 mark.

Conversely, if buyers stepped in and pushed the USD/JPY above 157.50, look for a re-test of the July 16 peak at 158.85.

USD/JPY Price Action – Daily Chart