USD/JPY PRICE ANALYSIS: DEFENDS 131.00 AS GEOPOLITICAL TENSIONS IN US-NORTH KOREA ESCALATE

The USD/JPY pair has witnessed buying interest after slipping below the immediate support of 131.00 in the Asian session. The recovery move in the asset is backed by an extension of reversal in the US Dollar Index (DXY). The USD Index has firmly climbed above the 102.00 resistance and is expected to record more upside amid deepening geopolitical tensions between the United States and North Korea

S&P500 futures have extended their downside after a two-day losing spell amid escalating geopolitical tensions, portraying a dismal market mood. The US and South Korea have been accused of stoking nuclear war tensions by North Korea after their joint military drills operation, as reported by Reuters.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) is attracting bids amid improvement in its safe-haven appeal amid geopolitical tensions. Also, investors are getting anxious ahead of the release of the United States Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data. Meanwhile, the 10-year US Treasury yields have also recovered to 3.31%.

USD/JPY is defending further downside after dragging to near the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement (placed from March 24 low at 129.64 to April 03 high at 133.76) at 131.22 on an hourly scale. The 20-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 131.30 is still acting as a barricade for the US Dollar bulls.

Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14) is making efforts in climbing into the 40.00-60.00 range.

Should the asset break above the immediate resistance of 131.50, US Dollar bulls would drive the asset towards 38.2% Fibo retracement at 132.19 followed by April 04 high at 133.17.

On the contrary, a break below April 05 low at 130.63 would drag the asset towards the round-level support of 130.00. A break below the 130.00 support would expose the asset to March 24 low at 129.64.