USD/JPY last Y109.93, a touch lower on...>

DOLLAR-YEN: USD/JPY last Y109.93, a touch lower on the day, with the Nikkei 225

poised to open unch. 

- The rate closed virtually unchanged Wednesday, as it round tripped from

session lows of Y109.56. JPY outperformed in the first half of the day, as it

edged higher around the Tokyo fix before benefitting from an AUD/JPY selloff &

struggling equities, but broader dollar strength came to the fore thereafter,

lifting USD/JPY pair back to opening levels. 

- Bulls continue to focus on the key Y110.00 level and a breach of the figure

would draw their attention to the YTD high of Y110.16, followed by the upper

Bollinger band (2%) at Y110.35. Conversely, downside focus falls on the 100-HMA

at Y109.64, ahead of Wednesday's low. 

- Japanese trade balance (BoP basis) & usual Rinban ops provide points of

interest during the remainder of this week.