USD/JPY strengthened past Y110.00 on.....>

DOLLAR-YEN: USD/JPY strengthened past Y110.00 on Thursday as solid domestic data

bolstered the greenback. The round figure proved resilient through the Asia-Pac

session, with a hefty option expiry rolling off at that level at the NY cut.

That said, the psychological barrier was challenged in European hours, before

better than exp. U.S. retail sales, initial jobless claims and Philly Fed survey

pushed the rate higher in a more sustainable manner.

- The rate last deals at Y110.21, +5 pips; it is testing Thursday's highs and

briefly showed above. Bulls look to build a base above Y110.00 and keep an eye

on the May 23 high of Y110.36. A break here would expose the 76.4% retracement

of the Apr 24 - Aug 26 decline at Y110.53. Meanwhile, a pullback below the

Y110.00 figure would  bring the Jan 13 low of Y109.45 into view.

- Datawise, next week the focus in Japan turns to final industrial output

(Monday), trade balance (Thursday), as well as CPI and flash Jibun Bank m'fing

PMI (Friday). Elsewhere, the BoJ will deliver its monetary policy decision

(Tuesday) and publish the minutes from the Dec meeting (Friday).