USD/JPY, also known as the "Ninja", is a heavily traded currency pair in the forex market, representing the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Japanese yen. The pair is popular among traders due to its tight spread and cost-effective nature. The yen is often viewed as a safe-haven currency, given Japan's net creditor status and large current account surplus. Since the US abandoned the gold standard in 1971, the yen has appreciated significantly against the US dollar.
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) intervenes frequently in the forex market to prevent excessive fluctuations in the yen's exchange rate, which can significantly impact the USD/JPY exchange rate. Traders can use technical analysis tools, such as charts and indicators, as well as fundamental analysis, such as evaluating interest rate differentials, to analyse the behaviour of USD/JPY and forecast its movements.
USD/JPY is often traded by investors and traders for hedging purposes. For example, Japanese corporations may use USD/JPY to hedge against currency risk from exports to the US. The pair can also be influenced by geopolitical events, such as trade disputes between the US and Japan, as well as economic indicators, such as GDP, inflation, and unemployment data.
Trading USD/JPY via CFDs allows investors to speculate on the future direction of the currency pair without owning the underlying asset. CFDs offer several advantages over traditional forex trading, including the ability to go short and leverage trading positions.
XTB offers CFD trading for the USD/JPY forex pair with near real-time movement tracking via our xStation trading platform.
USD/JPY has a unique characteristic compared to other forex pairs, as the yen is the counter currency. Therefore, pairs like USD/JPY have pip values in the second decimal place. The main influences on USD/JPY are the interest rates in both countries.
It's important to note that CFDs are complex financial instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.