Market Analysis
XAGUSD week ahead: silver holds gains, what to watch 2026-08-10
Silver closed last week at 63.516 after a sharp run higher, and this week is about whether that momentum holds against a stretched long position.
2 min readUSDJPY opened Monday at 157.584 and closed Friday at 157.779, a net gain of roughly 20 pips on the week. The path was not straight. Price dipped to a weekly low of 155.224 on Monday, then climbed to a high of 158.551 on Thursday before Friday's pullback trimmed the gains. Reporting noted the pair erased its non-farm payrolls drop, so most of the recovery came late in the week.
The main theme is the yen itself. Japanese executives have called for FX stability, with a weak yen intensifying import-cost pressure. That keeps the burden on the yen side of this pair and puts any official commentary on the currency under close watch through the coming five sessions. The economic calendar in the bundle carries no scheduled high-impact releases, so headline flow and any policy language around the yen will drive tone.
Secondary themes sit around the broader dollar and risk backdrop. Oil forecasts remain split, with one bank lifting its Q3 Brent view toward 80 dollars while another expects oil to soften below 70 dollars. Energy costs feed directly into Japan's import bill, so a firmer crude tone tends to add pressure on the yen, while softer oil eases that pressure. Open an LHFX account to trade USDJPY this week.
If price holds above last week's close and pushes back toward the 158.551 high, the round 159.00 area becomes the next obvious reference zone. If buyers stall there, attention shifts back down. If the pair loses Friday's close and trades below 157.20, the Monday low near 155.224 comes back into view. Watch correlated yen crosses such as GBP/JPY for confirmation, since a broad yen move usually shows up across both pairs at once.
Positioning is close to balanced. Longs sit at 50.4 percent and shorts at 49.6 percent as of the start of the week. That near-even split tells you consensus has no strong directional conviction into the new sessions. A flat book like this leaves room for a sharper move once a clear catalyst appears, since neither side is heavily committed.
Last week's high at 158.551 is the first upside reference, with the 159.00 round number just above it. On the downside, Friday's close near 157.78 and then the Monday low at 155.224 mark the wider band. These are reference levels for context, not entry signals. Use them to frame where price is relative to last week's range rather than as triggers to act.
Byline: LHFX Research
Risk disclaimer. CFD trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for every investor. Leverage works both ways and can amplify losses beyond your initial deposit. The analysis above is general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any instrument. LHFX is regulated by the FSC Mauritius and the FSCA in South Africa.
