AUD/JPY drops to near 101.50 as Aussie struggles due to fears over Trump tariffs on China

• AUD/JPY depreciates due to fears over Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods.
• The Aussie Dollar may regain its ground due to the hawkish mood surrounding the RBA.
• Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said to closely monitor the impact of Trump's policies on Japan's economy.

AUD/JPY retraces its recent gains from the previous session, trading around 101.60 during the early European hours on Friday. The Australian Dollar (AUD) lost ground due to concerns about Donald Trump's proposals to raise tariffs on Chinese goods, given that Australia is one of the largest exporters to China.

However, the downside of the Aussie Dollar could be limited due to hawkish sentiment surrounding the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). RBA Governor Michele Bullock emphasized the need for restrictive monetary policy given persistent inflation risks and a strong labor market on Tuesday following the central bank's decision to hold the Official Cash Rate (OCR) steady at 4.35%, marking its eighth consecutive pause.

The downside of the AUD/JPY cross could be attributed to some verbal intervention from Japanese authorities. Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato stated on Friday that he will "closely monitor the impact of Trump's policies on Japan's economy." Kato emphasized the importance of currencies moving in a stable manner that reflects economic fundamentals and affirmed that appropriate measures would be taken in response to excessive fluctuations.

Japan's real wages and household spending both declined for the second consecutive month in September, which could dampen inflation expectations and delay the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) plans for a rate hike. Combined with Japan's political landscape and prevailing risk-on sentiment, this is likely to limit gains for the safe-haven Yen.