Before the PBoC's monetary policy announcement, AUD/JPY recovers strongly from 92.00

Despite a difficult start to the Tokyo session at 92.10, the AUD/JPY pair has gained momentum. The risk barometer has recovered to approximately 92.30 and is expected to continue its upward trend in the near future. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US representative to the United Nations, declared on Sunday that China would cross a "red line" if it sent lethal military help to Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

According to Reuters, recent news from public broadcaster NHK that Japan's Coast Guard said North Korea fired three projectiles that may have been ballistic missiles has compounded the already negative market sentiment.

When the United States conducted bilateral air exercises with South Korea and Japan in response to the North's ICBM launch on Sunday, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim, warned against the escalating deployment of U.S. strategic weapons on the Korean peninsula.

Investors await the People's Bank of China's interest rate announcement for additional guidance (PBoC). Eight out of 10 economists, according to a Reuters poll published on February 17, believe that the PBoC would retain the Loan Prime Rate (LPR) at 3.65%. After the abolition of currency restrictions, China is required to maintain an expansionary monetary policy to stimulate economic growth.

Bloomberg stated that Goldman Sachs predicts the MSCI China Index could reach 85 by the end of 2023, a nearly 24% increase from current levels, as the nation's economic opening generates windfall advantages for corporations.

Notably, Australia is a major trading partner of China, and the increased economic activity in China will benefit the Australian Dollar.

On Tuesday, preliminary Jibun Bank PMI (Feb) data will be released, which will have a substantial impact on the Japanese Yen. The Manufacturing PMI is expected to remain constant at 48.9, whilst the Services PMI is expected to increase from 51.1 to 51.5.