Forex: USD/JPY holding steady above 82.00; JP data ahead

FXstreet.com (San Francisco) - USDJPY finished unchanged around 82.10 for a fourth day Thursday. "As commented earlier today, the longer term upward momentum eased over the past few days, but the bullish bias remains intact, with a break above 82.80 pointing for a retest of 84.17 this year high," said Valeria Bednarik, Chief Analyst at FXstreet.com in a research note. The analyst identifies more immediate resistance at 82.30, a break of which is now "required to confirm further gains" while "dips towards 81.50 continue to be seen as buying opportunities," she explains.

The latest on the fundamental front is that LDP leader Abe maintains his desire for higher inflation (CPI target 2.0%), and BoJ board member Shirai continues to reiterate that the central bank is committed to powerful monetary easing. Today, there is a slew of Japanese data on offer in Asia, including key inflation, employment numbers and industrial production figures for October and November.