• USD/JPY hit a 160.39 high earlier after first slumping on exporter sales

• It has since fallen back with moves lower accelerating into the Europe open

• Markets are on the thin side with many Japanese players having closed books

• Middle East and early European players may be behind the push down

• This follows the upside rejection at 160.39 and hawkish BOJ Takata-speak

• BOJ Gov Ueda also suggested a likely hike later this month

• US pressure on the BOJ to hike is intense, Japan's govt cannot object

• USD/JPY down to 159.44 EBS, to area of ascending 200-HMA at 159.44

• Ascending hourly Ichimoku tenkan at 159.37 just below, 159.30 low Aug 28

• Decisive break below bearish below the 200-HMA seen especially bearish

• Related comments , , also

• On Bessent-speak , BOJ Takata ,

• On BOJ Ueda-speak , for more click on [FXBUZ]

USD/JPY hourly:

(Haruya Ida is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)