USD/JPY dipped to lows circa 151.80 in the Tokyo morning before recovering to nudge above 152.40. News and data flow from Japan was light, with the manufacturing PMI (final for October) dipping further into contraction while chief cabinet secretary Hayashi said the BOJ will set monetary policy … while working closely with the government. It seems like the BoJ will behave itself and do what the politicians tell it to do?

Elsewhere we had lower-tier data from New Zealand and Australia. AUD and NZD were bound within small ranges. EUR, GBP, CAD; all pretty much the same.

China was a touch more interesting, with the country’s second manufacturing PMI for October published today. The Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI came in at 50.3, beating the central estimate of 49.7 and ahead of the September 49.3 result. This second PMI has a greater representation of smaller and export-oriented firms than does the official, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) manufacturing PMI. As I update Chinese equities are positive on the session.

The focus ahead is the US non-farm payrolls data due at 8.30 am US Eastern time. The results could well be distorted by impacts from hurricanes and strikes. There are previews in the points above, including the ‘ranges’ of estimates to be aware of.

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