{
  "id": 1771089,
  "title": "Japanese Yen drifts lower as Greenback retains safe-haven bid",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/japanese-yen-drifts-lower-as-greenback-retains-safe-haven-bid",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-18T18:06:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "FXStreet",
    "slug": "fxstreet",
    "url": "https://www.fxstreet.com/news/japanese-yen-drifts-lower-as-greenback-retains-safe-haven-bid-202608181806"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "USD/JPY experiences slight gains near 159.60 on Tuesday, recovering from a recent decline and inching closer to the higher end of its recent range. The US Dollar (USD) maintains a mild bullish sentiment, driven by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which continues to create a safe-haven premium for the currency. This inflow supports USD/JPY even as recent geopolitical developments take center stage. In a social media post, US President Donald Trump intensified his stance, stating there are no ongoing talks with Iran and that the US naval blockade remains intact. Iran, however, maintains that the waterway remains closed until Washington complies with its demands. Mixed economic data from the US includes a rise in Building Permits for July to 1.443 million, surpassing expectations, but Housing Starts falling to 1.239 million, missing forecasts. Industrial Production increased by 0.2%, just shy of the 0.3% consensus, while Pending Home Sales dropped by 2.3%, a smaller decline than the previous month but still indicative of contraction. On the 4-hour chart, USD/JPY is at 159.61, retaining a slight bullish bias as it remains above the 20-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 159.38 and within a support band between 159.55 and 159.59. However, the advance is becoming restricted by the 100-period SMA at 159.69, with further resistance at 159.73. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 59.46 indicates constructive momentum, but not yet overextended. Immediate resistance tops the chart at the 100-period SMA at 159.69, followed by the horizontal barrier at 159.73. On the downside, initial support lies at 159.59 and 159.55, preceding the horizontal floor at 159.43 and the 20-period SMA at 159.38, where buyers are expected to uphold the current short-term uptrend.",
  "summary": "USD/JPY holds modest gains near the 159.60s on Tuesday, edging higher on the day. The pair has clawed back ground after a recent sharp pullback and is grinding back toward the upper end of its recent range.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}