Reuters -

• USD/JPY settles in middle of 142-144 range before BOJ Thsdy

• Pair was buoyed by favorable month-end USD flows, short-covering

• Lower Trsy 2-yr yields after US data and slumping oil cap topside

• Risk off tone followed a soft ADP payrolls reading, US GDP drop in Q1

• Overnight vol sits at 18% before BOJ, large nearby expiries roll off Wed.

• US-Japan trade talks and US jobs data also come into play in day's ahead

• Seasonals turn bearish USD/JPY in early May

• Supp: 141.96 conversion line; 141.68 Apr 22 high; 141.54 April 23 low

• Resist: 143.99-144.00 Apr 9-10 lows; 144.55-60 Apr 4 low and Apr 11 high
Yen

(Robert Fullem is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own.)