USD/JPY slides to over one-week low, struggles near 131.00 mark ahead of US CPI

• USD/JPY drops to over a one-week low on Thursday and is pressured by a combination of factors.
• Reports that the BoJ will review the effects of its ultra-loose policy provides a strong lift to the JPY.
• Rising bets for smaller Fed rate hikes keep the US bond yields depressed and undermine the USD.
• Traders now look forward to the crucial US CPI report for some meaningful directional impetus.

The USD/JPY pair comes under heavy selling pressure on Thursday and continues losing ground through the first half of the European session. The downward trajectory drags spot prices to over a one-week low in the last hour, with bears now awaiting a sustained break below the 131.00 round-figure mark.

The Japanese Yen strengthens across the board amid reports that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) will review the side effects of its ultra-loose monetary policy at the next policy meeting on January 17-18. Further details showed that policymakers may take additional steps to correct distortions in the yield curve. This comes on the back of the BoJ's surprise tweak in December and fuels speculation for an eventual tightening later this year. This, along with the prevalent US Dollar selling bias, drags the USD/JPY pair lower.

The USD Index, which measures the greenback's performance against a basket of currencies, languishes near a seven-month low touched earlier this week amid rising bets for smaller Fed rate hikes. The bets were lifted by last week's mixed US monthly jobs report (NFP), which showed a slowdown in wage growth during December. The data pointed to easing inflationary pressure, which could allow the US central bank to soften its hawkish stance. This keeps the US Treasury bond yields depressed and weighs on the USD.

With the latest leg down, the USD/JPY pair confirms a breakdown through a three-day-old trading range and seems vulnerable to sliding further. Traders, however, might be reluctant to place aggressive bearish bets and prefer to wait for the latest US consumer inflation figures. The crucial US CPI report is due for release later during the early North American session and will play a key role in influencing the Fed's rate hike path. This, in turn, will drive the USD demand and provide a fresh directional impetus to the major.

Technical levels to watch