Macroeconomic and Investing, The Macro Compass

Alfonso Peccatiello (Alf)

Macroeconomic and Investing

The Macro Compass

Actionable investment ideas and unique global macro insights. From the desk of a former Head of $20 bn Investment Portfolio straight to your inbox.

Actionable Investment Ideas

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>The CPI report: once again, the inflation momentum is accelerating and inflationary pressures are broadening.</li>
<li>While mainstream headlines would focus on the 9.1% YoY print, I’d like to highlight two more relevant statistics that would worry the Fed further here.</li>
<li>MoM headline and core inflation are the highest in 20+ years: the inflation momentum is not only failing to decelerate, but it’s even picking up!</li>
</ul>


The CPI report: once again, the inflation momentum is accelerating and inflationary pressures are broadening.
While mainstream headlines would focus on the 9.1% YoY print, I’d like to highlight two more relevant statistics that would worry the Fed further here.
MoM headline and core inflation are the highest in 20+ years: the inflation momentum is not only failing to decelerate, but it’s even picking up!


Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

<ul>
<li>With the Brazilian central bank approaching the end of its aggressive monetary tightening cycle, the rate curve has taken a unique shape that features a hump and a kink.</li>
<li>The hump should get more pronounced because the rate-cutting cycle should be deeper than currently priced because real rates are quite elevated and growth risks are high.</li>
<li>The kink should also get more prominent as the curve should steepen further out due to fiscal risks irrespective of who wins the upcoming presidential election.</li>
</ul>


With the Brazilian central bank approaching the end of its aggressive monetary tightening cycle, the rate curve has taken a unique shape that features a hump and a kink.
The hump should get more pronounced because the rate-cutting cycle should be deeper than currently priced because real rates are quite elevated and growth risks are high.
The kink should also get more prominent as the curve should steepen further out due to fiscal risks irrespective of who wins the upcoming presidential election.


The Hump and Kink in Brazil’s Yield Curve to Become More Pronounced

<ul>
<li>The Turkish lira has become the worst-performing currency this year as the central bank is holding the policy rate steady despite sharply accelerating inflation, leading to highly negative real rates.</li>
<li>The lira is effectively in a vicious cycle: weakening currency adds to inflationary pressures, which with the central bank on hold means real rates become more negative, hurting the currency.</li>
<li>High inflation is also weighing on the economic outlook, which combined with worsening current account and fiscal deficits and depleting international reserves, is adding to the depreciation pressure.</li>
</ul>


The Turkish lira has become the worst-performing currency this year as the central bank is holding the policy rate steady despite sharply accelerating inflation, leading to highly negative real rates.
The lira is effectively in a vicious cycle: weakening currency adds to inflationary pressures, which with the central bank on hold means real rates become more negative, hurting the currency.
High inflation is also weighing on the economic outlook, which combined with worsening current account and fiscal deficits and depleting international reserves, is adding to the depreciation pressure.


Turkish Lira Takes the Helm as the Worst-Performing EM Currency

<ul>
<li>The dollar has strengthened significantly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has led to a broad risk-off environment. Among EM currencies, the worst performer has been the Hungarian forint. </li>
<li>Adding to the economic woes resulting from Russia's aggression, the forint has suffered as the central bank has signaled less aggressive monetary tightening even with inflation hitting a two-decade high.</li>
<li>PM Orban has worsened the situation with his pre-election spending and by going against the EU by resisting further sanctions on Russia. Relatedly, funding from the EU is at risk.</li>
</ul>


The dollar has strengthened significantly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has led to a broad risk-off environment. Among EM currencies, the worst performer has been the Hungarian forint. 
Adding to the economic woes resulting from Russia's aggression, the forint has suffered as the central bank has signaled less aggressive monetary tightening even with inflation hitting a two-decade high.
PM Orban has worsened the situation with his pre-election spending and by going against the EU by resisting further sanctions on Russia. Relatedly, funding from the EU is at risk.


Which EM Currency Has Suffered the Most Since Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine?

<ul>
<li>In line with my view that the dollar remains strong in the near term, one of the trading strategies that I have suggested is relative-value trades within EM currencies.</li>
<li>The volatility of EM currencies continues to rise, which in theory is supportive of relative-value trades as such environments are usually accompanied by wide dispersion among EM currencies. </li>
<li>However, I find that cross-correlations among EM currencies have risen, leading to a narrowing of dispersion between them, which means the environment is no longer supportive of relative-value trades.</li>
</ul>


In line with my view that the dollar remains strong in the near term, one of the trading strategies that I have suggested is relative-value trades within EM currencies.
The volatility of EM currencies continues to rise, which in theory is supportive of relative-value trades as such environments are usually accompanied by wide dispersion among EM currencies. 
However, I find that cross-correlations among EM currencies have risen, leading to a narrowing of dispersion between them, which means the environment is no longer supportive of relative-value trades.


Is the Environment Supportive of EM FX Relative-Value Trades?

Brazil

The Brazilian real is the official currency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.  

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Nothing Else (Except Macro) Matters

While mainstream headlines would focus on the 9.1% YoY print, I’d like to highlight two more relevant statistics that would worry the Fed further...

Alfonso Peccatiello (Alf)

The Hump and Kink in Brazil’s Yield Curve to Become More Pronounced

I expect the hump and kink in Brazil's rate curve to get more pronounced as a deeper rate-cutting cycle should get priced in and the curve should...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Turkish Lira Takes the Helm as the Worst-Performing EM Currency

The Turkish lira is effectively in a vicious cycle: weakening currency adds to inflationary pressures, which with the central bank on hold means...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Which EM Currency Has Suffered the Most Since Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine?

Adding to the economic woes from Russia's aggression, the Hungarian forint has suffered as the central bank has signaled less aggressive monetary...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Is the Environment Supportive of EM FX Relative-Value Trades?

The rise in the volatility of EM currencies should in theory be supportive of relative-value trades, but of late, the dispersion between them is...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

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52-week Range

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