USD/JPY extends gains to above 144

The Nikkei 225 has risen further again today and moved back towards the 39k handle. The gains come in the absence of the Chinese markets, which are now closed pretty much closed for the rest of the week, due to the Golden week holidays there. The Nikkei has gotten a boost from the record closes on Wall Street last night and the push higher in the USD/JPY. The dollar was helped higher into the US close last night by the comments from Jerome Powell, concerning upcoming US monetary policy. The USD/JPY closed the month in the US at 143.63. It has built on that close today, rising to a high so far at 144.41. So, do you remember what was noted here yesterday, about a major European player advocating a move back above 146? Well if you do, then you can see that was so far not such a bad call. There will be lots more to add later on, in what could be a busy day for the dollar. The USD/JPY is currently trading at 144.36