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Correlation Deep Dive

USD/JPY vs Gold: Correlation Analysis

Pearson correlation of daily returns for JPY/USD and Gold (Spot). Rolling windows, yearly breakdown, regression beta, and divergence analysis. Data window spans to (1,238 aligned observations).

30-Day
-0.492
Moderate negative
90-Day
-0.235
Weak negative
1-Year
-0.201
Weak negative
5-Year
-0.341
Weak negative

What the Number Means

A correlation of -0.24 signals only a weak tendency to move in opposite directions. On most days the two move independently. Do not expect one to reliably predict the other. Look for conditional relationships within specific regimes or event windows.

Recent vs Long-Run Behavior

Last 90 Days
-0.235
5-Year Baseline
-0.341

Recent correlation tracks the long-run relationship closely. No meaningful divergence. The historical pattern between JPY/USD and Gold (Spot) is intact and should continue to serve as a reasonable baseline for positioning.

Statistical Details (1-Year Window)

Pearson Correlation (r)-0.201
R-Squared (r²)0.040
Beta (JPY/USD vs Gold (Spot))-0.062
Daily Volatility σ(JPY/USD)0.53%
Daily Volatility σ(Gold (Spot))1.72%
Observations252

Correlation measures directional co-movement; R² quantifies the fraction of variance explained by the linear relationship. Beta is the slope coefficient from regressing JPY/USD returns on Gold (Spot) returns. A beta above 1 means the first asset amplifies moves of the second.

Year-by-Year Correlation

YearCorrelationStrengthObservations
2026-0.245Weak negative106
2025-0.322Weak negative249
2024-0.252Weak negative250
2023-0.566Moderate negative248
2022-0.462Moderate negative249
2021-0.386Weak negative136

Year-by-year correlation reveals how the relationship has held up across different macro regimes. Sharp year-over-year swings in correlation often mark the transition between stress and calm periods.

Rolling 90-Day Extremes

Most Correlated Period
-0.033
ending 2026-01-12
Most Decoupled Period
-0.744
ending 2023-06-13

Extremes in rolling 90-day correlation often coincide with regime changes, forced deleveraging, or the arrival of a dominant new macro theme that overwhelms normal relationships.

Methodology

Correlations are computed on daily log-adjacent returns for JPY/USD and Gold (Spot), aligned on shared trading dates. We use the Pearson product-moment coefficient, which measures the linear relationship between two return series.

Windows are the most recent N observations for 30D, 90D, and 1Y (252 trading days); the 5Y figure uses all aligned data up to 1,260 observations. Beta is the OLS slope from regressing the first series on the second. Data updates daily with a 24-hour revalidation cadence.

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Get daily macro analysis on shifting correlations, regime transitions, and cross-asset signals.

Correlation is not causation and backward-looking statistics can fail when regimes shift. Positions sized on historical correlation assumptions should be stress-tested against scenarios where the relationship breaks. For informational purposes only.