Overview of trading and tips on USD/JPY

The price test of 158.34 occurred when the MACD indicator was just starting to fall from the zero mark, which confirmed the correct entry point to sell the dollar. However, the downward movement did not materialize, resulting in a loss. After some time, the upward movement resumed, and the price test of 158.55, which coincided with the beginning of the MACD's upward movement from the zero mark, confirmed a suitable entry point to buy the dollar. As a result, the USD/JPY pair rose by more than 40 pips.

Today, the yen dropped after Japan released its Consumer Price Index, which increased to 2.8%. However, the primary cause of the market's negative reaction were the weak reports on the Business Activity Index in the manufacturing and services sectors of Japan. Clearly, in this context, it is safe to say that the upward trend will likely continue, especially since dollar buyers have already consolidated above the yearly high and are ready to take further action at any suitable opportunity. As for the intraday strategy, I will rely more on the implementation of scenarios No. 1 and 2.

Buy signals

Scenario No. 1. Today, I plan to buy USD/JPY when the price reaches the entry point around 159.14 plotted by the green line on the chart, aiming for growth to 159.57 plotted by the thicker green line on the chart. Around 159.57, I'm going to exit long positions and open short ones in the opposite direction, expecting a movement of 30-35 pips in the opposite direction from that level. The pair is expected to continue its bullish trend today. Before buying, make sure that the MACD indicator is above the zero mark and is just starting to rise from it.

Scenario No. 2. I also plan to buy USD/JPY today in case of two consecutive tests of 158.81 when the MACD indicator is in the oversold area. This will limit the pair's downward potential and lead to a reverse market upturn. One can expect growth to the opposite levels of 159.14 and 159.57.

Sell signals

Scenario No. 1. I plan to sell USD/JPY today only after testing the level of 158.81 plotted by the red line on the chart, which will lead to a rapid decline in the price. The key target for sellers will be 158.45, where I am going to exit short positions and immediately open long ones in the opposite direction, expecting a movement of 20-25 pips in the opposite direction from that level. Pressure on USD/JPY may return in case the price fails to consolidate around the daily high. Before selling, make sure that the MACD indicator is below the zero mark and is just starting to decline from it.

Scenario No. 2. I also plan to sell USD/JPY today in case of two consecutive price tests at 159.14 when the MACD indicator is in the overbought area. This will limit the pair's upward potential and lead to a reverse market downturn. One can expect a decline to the opposite levels of 158.81 and 158.45.

What's on the chart:

The thin green line is the entry price at which you can buy the trading instrument.

The thick green line is the estimated price where you can set Take-Profit (TP) or manually close positions, as further growth above this level is unlikely.

The thin red line is the entry price at which you can sell the trading instrument.

The thick red line is the price where you can set Take-Profit (TP) or manually close positions, as further decline below this level is unlikely.

MACD line: it is important to be guided by overbought and oversold areas when entering the market

Important: Novice traders in the forex market need to be very careful when making decisions to enter the market. It is best to stay out of the market before important fundamental reports are released to avoid getting caught in sharp price fluctuations. If you decide to trade during news releases, always place stop orders to minimize losses. Without setting stop orders, you can quickly lose your entire deposit, especially if you don't use money management and trade in large volumes.

And remember, for successful trading, it is necessary to have a clear trading plan, similar to the one I presented above. Spontaneously making trading decisions based on the current market situation is inherently a losing strategy for an intraday trader.