Markets Rattled by U.S. Credit Downgrade as Safe Havens Gain

 Key Takeaways:

*Safe-haven assets surge as risk-off sentiment escalates. 

*Yen has improved in the U.S.-Japan Currency talk. 

Markets kicked off the week on a jittery note after Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit outlook, sparking renewed concerns over Washington’s fiscal credibility and ability to service its mounting debt obligations. The downgrade weighed on sentiment, with the dollar index trading flat and Wall Street futures dipping during the Asian session.

Risk-off flows dominated early trading, prompting a shift toward traditional safe-haven assets. Gold gained modestly, while the Japanese yen and Swiss franc strengthened across the board. The yen, in particular, saw a notable rally, marking fresh weekly highs against most G7 currencies.

Beyond the broader risk aversion, traders are also closely monitoring potential currency discussions between U.S. and Japanese officials this week. Tokyo’s top FX diplomat has signaled the intent to engage Washington in talks aimed at stabilizing exchange rate volatility, further fueling gains in the yen.

Technical Analysis

GBPJPY, H4

The British pound has weakened sharply against the yen, with GBP/JPY falling nearly 1.8% from last Wednesday’s high of 196.45. The pair has now slipped below a key pivot level near 193.50 — a former resistance zone — and is approaching its long-term ascending trendline support.

This level is seen as critical to determining the pair’s next directional bias. A successful rebound from the trendline could reinforce the broader uptrend, while a decisive break below would mark a strong bearish signal. Conversely, a recovery and sustained move back above 193.50 may indicate a bullish reversal.

Momentum indicators point to growing downside pressure. The RSI has dropped below the 50 threshold after retreating from overbought territory, while the MACD has fallen below the zero line, signaling the emergence of bearish momentum that may keep the pair under pressure.

Resistance levels: 194.00, 196.00

Support levels: 191.90, 189.95