• USD/JPY stay defensive as risk tone sours amid US budget uncertainty

• Slips to lower end of day's EBS range of 144.10-145.51 as US shares, 2-yr yields ease

• G7 commences; markets await Fin Min Kato meeting with Trsy Sectry Bessent

• Japan trade negotiator Akazara set to meet US counterpart Friday: Nikkei

• Pair settles near middle of 21-day Bollinger; large 145 Friday expiries may cap

• Resist: 145.36 9-day EMA; 146.05 conversion line; 146.14 cloud bottom

• Supp: 144.27-47 base line an 21-DMA, 144.00 May 7 high

• AUD/JPY stays under pressure; tests 21-DMA and 55-DMA
Yen


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