USD/JPY slid in Thursday's European......>

DOLLAR-YEN: USD/JPY slid in Thursday's European hours before jumping to fresh

intraday highs as participants sold the yen in reaction to a Nikkei piece,

suggesting that the BoJ will debate ditching its Y80tn target for JGB purchases

and switch to the possibility of buying bonds without limit. The spot quickly

gave up those gains and finished the day in negative territory.

- On Thursday, Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike urged companies to add a few days off to

the upcoming Golden Week holidays, allowing workers to stay home for 12 days.

- USD/JPY last trades at Y107.56, barely changed on the day. A drop below

Y106.93/92, the lows of Apr 15/1, is needed to expose the 50% retracement of the

Mar 9 - 24 rally at Y106.45. Bulls look for gains through Apr 16 & 17 highs at

Y108.08 to bring the key Apr 6 high of Y109.38 into view.

- Worth adding that the 50-DMA is heading towards the 200-DMA and now intersects

just 1 pip above. A potential death cross would support the bearish case.

- Japanese CPI will be in focus today. Next week's highlights include BoJ MonPol

decision (Monday), unemployment (Tuesday), retail sales & flash industrial

output (Wednesday), as well as Tokyo CPI & final Jibun Bank M'fing PMI (Friday).