The recorded policy rates and inflation levels differ substantially. Treat the Japan policy comparison as dated context because the BIS series can lag a new announcement.
What changed
No material change in the tracked macro observations since the preceding briefing. Reference-rate charts may contain a newer daily observation.
Interpretation revised. The pair assessment differs from the preceding briefing. Read both versions alongside their evidence. Compare the earlier assessment.
USD/JPY is derived from same-date ECB JPY-per-EUR and USD-per-EUR observations. Source and calculation
Inspect all chart observations
| Date | JPY per USD |
|---|---|
| 25 Sept 2026 | 157.590 |
| 24 Sept 2026 | 158.855 |
| 23 Sept 2026 | 157.918 |
| 22 Sept 2026 | 157.175 |
| 21 Sept 2026 | 157.267 |
| 18 Sept 2026 | 157.888 |
| 17 Sept 2026 | 155.692 |
| 16 Sept 2026 | 155.049 |
| 15 Sept 2026 | 155.005 |
| 14 Sept 2026 | 154.549 |
| 11 Sept 2026 | 154.037 |
| 10 Sept 2026 | 154.175 |
| 9 Sept 2026 | 153.270 |
| 8 Sept 2026 | 154.297 |
| 7 Sept 2026 | 154.750 |
| 4 Sept 2026 | 156.247 |
| 3 Sept 2026 | 156.014 |
| 2 Sept 2026 | 159.596 |
| 1 Sept 2026 | 160.164 |
| 31 Aug 2026 | 159.727 |
| 28 Aug 2026 | 159.684 |
| 27 Aug 2026 | 159.390 |
| 26 Aug 2026 | 159.071 |
| 25 Aug 2026 | 159.235 |
| 24 Aug 2026 | 159.122 |
| 21 Aug 2026 | 158.697 |
| 20 Aug 2026 | 158.762 |
| 19 Aug 2026 | 159.087 |
| 18 Aug 2026 | 159.701 |
| 17 Aug 2026 | 159.225 |
| 14 Aug 2026 | 159.013 |
| 13 Aug 2026 | 159.329 |
| 12 Aug 2026 | 159.091 |
| 11 Aug 2026 | 159.203 |
| 10 Aug 2026 | 158.641 |
| 7 Aug 2026 | 158.336 |
| 6 Aug 2026 | 157.832 |
| 5 Aug 2026 | 157.590 |
| 4 Aug 2026 | 157.412 |
| 3 Aug 2026 | 156.680 |
| 31 Jul 2026 | 160.235 |
| 30 Jul 2026 | 162.940 |
| 29 Jul 2026 | 163.682 |
| 28 Jul 2026 | 163.913 |
| 27 Jul 2026 | 163.640 |
| 24 Jul 2026 | 163.822 |
| 23 Jul 2026 | 163.474 |
| 22 Jul 2026 | 163.070 |
| 21 Jul 2026 | 162.743 |
| 20 Jul 2026 | 162.384 |
| 17 Jul 2026 | 162.352 |
| 16 Jul 2026 | 162.196 |
| 15 Jul 2026 | 162.388 |
| 14 Jul 2026 | 162.218 |
| 13 Jul 2026 | 162.141 |
| 10 Jul 2026 | 161.872 |
| 9 Jul 2026 | 162.414 |
| 8 Jul 2026 | 162.487 |
| 7 Jul 2026 | 161.891 |
| 6 Jul 2026 | 162.339 |
| 3 Jul 2026 | 161.146 |
| 2 Jul 2026 | 161.584 |
| 1 Jul 2026 | 162.708 |
| 30 Jun 2026 | 162.436 |
| 29 Jun 2026 | 161.862 |
TradingView Lightweight Charts™ · Copyright (c) 2026 TradingView, Inc. Attribution and terms
The score, explained
Balanced alignment: Mixed · -0.1 / 10. Snapshot 27 Sept 2026. This is a disclosed research rule, not a probability or forecast.
Technical conditions
| Condition | Measurement | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Price vs MA20 | +0.720 % | +1 |
| MA20 vs MA50 | -1.400 % | -1 |
| MA50 change over five observations | -0.283 % | -1 |
ECB reference observations through 25 Sept 2026. Equal votes use a ±0.1% neutral band. RSI is context and adds no weight.
Relative macro conditions
| Input | USD | JPY | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy-rate difference | +3.875Target-range midpoint · 2026-09-17 | +1.000Last BIS policy observation · 2026-09-22 | +5.0 |
| Growth momentum2026-Q2 | -0.148pp change within the economy | -0.100pp change within the economy | -1.5 |
| Labour momentum2026-07 | +0.200pp change within the economy | +0.100pp change within the economy | 0.0 |
Policy levels are percentages. Growth compares changes in non-annualised quarterly growth; labour compares improvements in unemployment over three months. Columns use the same macro periods. GDP adjustment methods still differ.
Futures positioning and sentiment proxy
| Currency | Leveraged net / open interest | Non-reportable long / short |
|---|---|---|
| USD | Quote reference | No inferred USD position |
| JPY | +1.96% | 53.1% / 46.9% |
Position date 22 Sept 2026. Yen futures are quoted in USD per JPY. Their direction is inverted for USD/JPY. Non-reportable shares describe contracts, not broker retail sentiment.
COT and the proxy share 20% of the balanced total, split 60% / 40%. Technical conditions contribute 40%, macro conditions 40%. Opposing inputs stay visible. Full calculation, source dates and limitations →
The two sides of the pair
| Factor | USD | JPY |
|---|---|---|
| Policy | 3.75%–4.00%17 Sept 2026Source & definition | 1.00%22 Sept 2026Last BIS observation; reported with a lagSource & definition |
| Inflation | 3.4% year on yearAugust 2026Source & definition | 1.9% year on yearAugust 2026Source & definition |
| Labour | 4.1%August 2026Source & definition | 2.4%July 2026Source & definition |
| Growth | 0.37% quarter on quarter (converted)Q2 2026Seasonally adjustedOfficial: 1.5% annualised quarterlySource & definition | 0.4% quarter on quarterQ2 2026Seasonally adjustedSource & definition |
These are different policy instruments and statistical definitions. Dates are shown beside each value. GDP comparisons use non-annualised quarterly growth; the US conversion is labelled.
Observed evidence
The same-date ECB cross rate was 157.590 JPY per USD on 25 Sept 2026, below both the preceding daily reference observation and the reference rate in the preceding briefing.
The US target range is 3.75% to 4.00%. The latest BIS Japan policy observation is 1.00% for 22 Sept 2026.
Headline inflation is 3.4% year on year in the United States and 1.9% year on year in Japan for their latest reported months.
What complicates the picture
Japan’s latest unemployment rate fell and its quarterly economy expanded. A lower reported policy rate is not enough to characterise the whole domestic backdrop.
Keep these limits in view
The chart derives USD/JPY from two ECB rates on the same day. It contains daily reference observations, not executable quotes or intraday candles.
The latest reference-rate change does not identify its cause or establish how much of the published macro backdrop was already reflected in prices.