• USD/JPY pushed up to 159.84 EBS yesterday, Asia 159.66-78 so far

• Seems pattern of USD buys ahead of weekends continuing

• Market wary of fresh Middle East developments as market rests

• US-Iran impasse on-going, ceasefire precarious, both sides rattling sabres

• Japan FX intervention still seen real however but for how long?

• Any 160.00 break higher could see quick move to 160.47 March 30 high

• This especially without any real intervention, jaw-boning just won't cut it

• Japanese importer demand higher today with Gotobi tomorrow, good support

• Hourly Ichimoku tenkan/kijun at 159.57/58, hourly cloud 159.21-35

• In options, expiries today at 159.00-10 $906 mln, 160.00 $1 bln

• JGB-US Treasury rate diffs have widened a bit but still near recent lows

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USD/JPY:

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