Market Data 
- EUR/JPY edges higher to near 164.40 in Thursday’s early European session.
- Further consolidation cannot be ruled out amid the neutral RSI indicator.
- The key resistance level emerges at the 164.95-165.00 region; the initial support level is located at 163.64.
The EUR/JPY cross gains traction to around 164.40 during the early European trading hours on Thursday. A lack of clear direction regarding the timing of a rate hike from the Bank of Japan (BoJ) weighs on the Japanese Yen (JPY) against the Euro (EUR).
Traders brace for the flash Eurozone Gross Domestic Product (GDP) number for the third quarter (Q3), which is due later on Thursday, along with the speech from the European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde.
Technically, EUR/JPY hovers around the key 100-period Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) within the descending trend channel on the 4-hour chart. The cross could resume the upside if it can break above the 100-period EMA. However, further consolidation cannot be ruled out as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands near the midline, suggesting the neutral momentum of the cross.
The crucial resistance level for EUR/JPY emerges in the 164.95-165.00 zone, representing the upper boundary of the descending trend channel and the psychological level. Any follow-through buying could see a rally to 166.00, the high of November 7.
On the downside, the low of November 13 at 163.64 acts as an initial support for the cross. Decisive trading below the mentioned level could expose 162.90, the lower limit of the trend channel. Extended losses could pave the way to 162.00, the low of October 21 and the round number.
EUR/JPY 4-hour chart
Euro FAQs
The Euro is the currency for the 19 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%).
The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.
Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy.
Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
