USDJPY grinds within a fortnight-old bullish channel

USDJPY stays mildly bid around 161.00 early Monday as traders await the key US data/events scheduled for release during the week. In doing so, the Yen pair defends the previous three-week uptrend while approaching the highest level since 1986, marked the last week, by being within a fortnight-long bullish trend channel. It’s worth noting, however, that the nearly overbought RSI conditions and the sluggish MACD signals could join the market’s cautious mood and recently firmer Japan data to challenge the buyers around the multi-year high. The latest peak of nearly 161.30 appears an immediate upside hurdle to watch during further advances. Following that, the aforementioned rising trend channel’s top line surrounding 161.60 may test the bulls targeting the late 1986 high of 164.50.

Conversely, a convergence of the bullish channel’s bottom line and the year 1990’s high, close to 160.40, appears a tough nut to crack for the USDJPY bears. Even if the Yen pair sellers manage to conquer the 160.40 hurdle, April’s peak of 160.20 and the 160.00 psychological magnet will challenge the sellers before giving them control. In a case where the quote remains bearish past 160.00, the 1.5-month-old resistance-turned-support and the 100-bar Exponential Moving Average (EMA), respectively near 159.60 and 158.75, will be the last defense of the buyers.

Overall, the USDJPY pair remains within a bullish trajectory but the buyers are likely to have a long and bumpy road ahead.