Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The HSCEI 2022 dividend futures are trading around our fair value. Larger than expected special dividends from oil and telecom companies could provide some upside.</li>
<li>The HSCEI 2022/23 div steepener has dropped from -5 to -15 since our last Insight. We see further downside here and would look to add to shorts in the spread.</li>
<li>With rising interest rates, higher inflation, higher oil prices, a slowdown could lead to a rapid repricing of dividends and there will be opportunities to buy back the spread lower.</li>
</ul>


The HSCEI 2022 dividend futures are trading around our fair value. Larger than expected special dividends from oil and telecom companies could provide some upside.
The HSCEI 2022/23 div steepener has dropped from -5 to -15 since our last Insight. We see further downside here and would look to add to shorts in the spread.
With rising interest rates, higher inflation, higher oil prices, a slowdown could lead to a rapid repricing of dividends and there will be opportunities to buy back the spread lower.


HSCEI Dividend Futures: Stay Short the 2022/23 Steepener

Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

<ul>
<li>The turnaround of Asian currencies is likely to continue with growth resurfacing in the region ex-China and the interest rate differential with the rest of emerging markets narrowing.</li>
<li>The main risks to watch are whether the slowdown in China worsens and weighs on the region as a whole and whether central banks embark on FX interventions again.</li>
<li>While the overall view on Asian currencies is constructive, I prefer cross-country trades to take advantage of differences arising from idiosyncratic drivers and to eliminate the dollar risk.</li>
</ul>


The turnaround of Asian currencies is likely to continue with growth resurfacing in the region ex-China and the interest rate differential with the rest of emerging markets narrowing.
The main risks to watch are whether the slowdown in China worsens and weighs on the region as a whole and whether central banks embark on FX interventions again.
While the overall view on Asian currencies is constructive, I prefer cross-country trades to take advantage of differences arising from idiosyncratic drivers and to eliminate the dollar risk.


Drivers Behind the Turnaround of Asian Currencies

<ul>
<li>The US dollar has started appreciating again on the back of a safe-haven bid with risk aversion rising due to the Fed's upcoming rate-hiking cycle and the Russia-Ukraine tensions.</li>
<li>Given my expectation of rising dollar volatility, I had recommended hedging a diversified EMFX portfolio with the euro. Indeed, the euro hedge has worked well over the past three months.</li>
<li>I continue to prescribe maintaining the euro hedge. If the dollar remains volatile, I don't expect the low volatility of EM currencies – dragged lower by Asia – to persist. </li>
</ul>


The US dollar has started appreciating again on the back of a safe-haven bid with risk aversion rising due to the Fed's upcoming rate-hiking cycle and the Russia-Ukraine tensions.
Given my expectation of rising dollar volatility, I had recommended hedging a diversified EMFX portfolio with the euro. Indeed, the euro hedge has worked well over the past three months.
I continue to prescribe maintaining the euro hedge. If the dollar remains volatile, I don't expect the low volatility of EM currencies – dragged lower by Asia – to persist. 


Value of Euro as a Hedge for EM Currencies in Times Like These

<ul>
<li>In my monthly recap note, I provide a performance update of my weekly trade recommendations in emerging markets FX and rates.</li>
<li>Of the total of 31 trade recommendations made so far, I have recommended closing 21 of which 17 were in the money.</li>
<li>I also go over my open trade recommendations as well as those that I have closed recently.</li>
</ul>


In my monthly recap note, I provide a performance update of my weekly trade recommendations in emerging markets FX and rates.
Of the total of 31 trade recommendations made so far, I have recommended closing 21 of which 17 were in the money.
I also go over my open trade recommendations as well as those that I have closed recently.


Alpha Bites: Performance Summary of Trade Recommendations in FX and Rates – January 2022

<ul>
<li>The South African rand gave up much of its earlier outperformance towards the end of last year but still ended as one of the year's best performers.</li>
<li>In 2022 though I expect the currency to underperform on the back of a weak economic outlook with the ongoing pandemic adding to previous structural constraints to growth. </li>
<li>In addition, the currency's carry is likely to stay low especially relative to its volatility and the commodity tailwind should fade as the year progresses.</li>
</ul>


The South African rand gave up much of its earlier outperformance towards the end of last year but still ended as one of the year's best performers.
In 2022 though I expect the currency to underperform on the back of a weak economic outlook with the ongoing pandemic adding to previous structural constraints to growth. 
In addition, the currency's carry is likely to stay low especially relative to its volatility and the commodity tailwind should fade as the year progresses.


South African Rand – Watch for Headwinds in 2022

China

The Chinese renminbi (yuan) is the official currency of The People's Republic of China. 

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

CNY (USDCNY CURNCY)

HSCEI Dividend Futures: Stay Short the 2022/23 Steepener

We see the HSCEI 2022 div futures trading in line with our estimates while there could be more downside to the 2022/23 div spread. We'd look to get...

Brian Freitas

Drivers Behind the Turnaround of Asian Currencies

The turnaround of Asian currencies is likely to continue with growth resurfacing in the region ex-China and interest rate differential with the...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Value of Euro as a Hedge for EM Currencies in Times Like These

Given my expectation that the dollar should remain volatile in the near term, I continue to recommend maintaining a euro hedge for a diversified...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Alpha Bites: Performance Summary of Trade Recommendations in FX and Rates – January 2022

I provide a performance update of all my trade recommendations along with discussing the open trades. I have closed 21 of the 31 trades recommended...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

South African Rand – Watch for Headwinds in 2022

In 2022, I expect the South African rand to underperform on the back of a weak economic outlook, low carry relative to its volatility, and the...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)