WatchTower

Seasonality · USD/JPY · 12 November 2026

USD/JPY seasonality: is November bullish for USD/JPY?

Over the last 14 years (2012 to 2025), USD/JPY rose in November 8 times, with an average move of +1.13% and a median of +0.94%. December, the month ahead, has risen in 8 of 15 years, −0.04% on average (median +0.35%).

Its best month on average is October (+1.70%, up in 11 of 15) and its worst is July (−0.74%, up in 5 of 15).

The seasonal pattern: average return by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Monthly seasonal returns, all 12 months

MonthAverageMedianUp yearsBestWorstSample
January −0.41% −0.83% 5 of 15 +5.36% (2013) −3.48% (2017) 2012–2026
February +0.57% +1.11% 8 of 15 +6.24% (2012) −6.73% (2016) 2012–2026
March +0.74% +0.20% 8 of 15 +5.50% (2022) −2.45% (2023) 2012–2026
April +0.24% −0.08% 7 of 15 +6.92% (2022) −4.91% (2016) 2012–2026
May +0.67% +0.46% 8 of 15 +3.60% (2016) −2.46% (2019) 2012–2026
June +0.55% +1.11% 8 of 15 +5.57% (2022) −7.21% (2016) 2012–2026
July −0.74% −1.22% 5 of 15 +4.46% (2025) −6.53% (2024) 2012–2026
August −0.07% +0.06% 8 of 15 +4.08% (2022) −2.95% (2024) 2012–2026
September +0.89% +0.73% 9 of 15 +5.44% (2014) −2.10% (2016) 2012–2026
October +1.70% +1.36% 11 of 15 +6.35% (2024) −0.98% (2020) 2012–2026
November (now) +1.13% +0.94% 8 of 14 +8.82% (2016) −6.27% (2022) 2012–2025
December (next) −0.04% +0.35% 8 of 15 +4.97% (2012) −5.38% (2022) 2011–2025

Each month is the last 15 complete years of that month, from the Federal Reserve's daily exchange rates (H.10), month-end to month-end. The month in progress is not counted. History, not a forecast.

USD/JPY in November, year by year

November 2025+1.38%
November 2024−1.27%
November 2023−2.37%
November 2022−6.27%
November 2021−0.71%
November 2020−0.15%
November 2019+1.28%
November 2018+0.60%
November 2017−1.17%
November 2016+8.82%
November 2015+2.09%
November 2014+5.90%
November 2013+4.43%
November 2012+3.25%

Questions

Is November bullish for USD/JPY?

Over the last 14 years (2012 to 2025), USD/JPY rose in November 8 times, with an average move of +1.13% and a median of +0.94%. That is no clear lean; the range runs from −6.27% (2022) to +8.82% (2016). A seasonal tendency is history, not a forecast.

What is the best month for USD/JPY?

Its best month on average is October (+1.70%, up in 11 of 15) and its worst is July (−0.74%, up in 5 of 15). Measured over the last 15 years of each month, from the Federal Reserve's daily exchange rates (H.10), month-end to month-end.

What happens to USD/JPY in December?

December, the month ahead, has risen in 8 of 15 years, −0.04% on average (median +0.35%).

How reliable is USD/JPY seasonality?

Fifteen years is fifteen observations per month, so one large year can move an average a long way; the median and the count of up years are steadier. Seasonality is one input among several, and is weighed as one in the terminal's composite score.

More on USD/JPY: USD/JPY analysis · USD/JPY rate differential · USD/JPY retail sentiment · US Dollar outlook · US Dollar COT positioning · Fed rate expectations · US economic surprises · Japanese Yen outlook · Japanese Yen COT positioning · BoJ rate expectations · Japanese economic surprises

Other seasonality: EUR/JPY in Nov +0.96% · GBP/JPY in Nov +1.68% · AUD/JPY in Nov +1.10% · NZD/JPY in Nov +2.12% · CAD/JPY in Nov +0.79% · CHF/JPY in Nov +1.23% · all 39

In WatchTower Terminal, the Seasonality panel draws the USD/JPY path through the year over 5, 10 and 15 years against this year. Not financial advice.