Currency Crossroads: Dollar Nears ¥150, Bitcoin Sails at $50K Mark

The dollar approached the significant threshold of 150 yen on Tuesday as markets awaited the release of U.S. inflation data, while bitcoin remained stable around $50,000. Trading activity was subdued in Asia due to Lunar New Year holidays in China and Hong Kong. The yen, down over 5% against the dollar this year, faced pressure amid reduced expectations of aggressive Fed easing and signs that the Bank of Japan might not rush to hike rates. The dollar's strength was supported by higher U.S. yields and carry trades. Other currencies like the euro, sterling, and Australian dollar dipped slightly. Eyes were on the upcoming U.S. inflation report, which could impact Fed rate cut expectations. Despite resilient U.S. economic data, markets have scaled back rate cut forecasts. Bitcoin's recent rise was attributed to regulatory approvals for ETFs and anticipation of its halving event.