Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

<ul>
<li>The volatility of the US dollar has risen sharply in recent weeks with the dollar appreciating strongly starting in early November but coming off the highs on the Omicron variant.</li>
<li>I expect the dollar's volatility to stay high whether the Omicron variant turns out to be as big a threat to the economic recovery as feared or not.</li>
<li>For EM currencies, the environment is therefore likely to be less supportive and it's best to hedge exposures with the euro and consider beta-neutral relative-value trades.</li>
</ul>


The volatility of the US dollar has risen sharply in recent weeks with the dollar appreciating strongly starting in early November but coming off the highs on the Omicron variant.
I expect the dollar's volatility to stay high whether the Omicron variant turns out to be as big a threat to the economic recovery as feared or not.
For EM currencies, the environment is therefore likely to be less supportive and it's best to hedge exposures with the euro and consider beta-neutral relative-value trades.


Implications of Higher Dollar Volatility for EM Currencies

<ul>
<li>Chile's political polarization was apparent in Sunday's general elections where the two leading candidates for the presidency who are headed for a run-off election are leftist and ultra-conservative. </li>
<li>The markets reacted positively to the elections in which right-wing parties performed well, which allowed me to recommend taking profits on a long Chilean peso vs South African rand trade.</li>
<li>While there is room for the peso to continue to outperform, I recommend closing the trade for now as I anticipate market volatility to pick up again.</li>
</ul>


Chile's political polarization was apparent in Sunday's general elections where the two leading candidates for the presidency who are headed for a run-off election are leftist and ultra-conservative. 
The markets reacted positively to the elections in which right-wing parties performed well, which allowed me to recommend taking profits on a long Chilean peso vs South African rand trade.
While there is room for the peso to continue to outperform, I recommend closing the trade for now as I anticipate market volatility to pick up again.


Chile’s Market-Friendly Election Outcome Allows Exit from Trade Recommendation

<ul>
<li>The Hungarian central bank increased the size of the rate hike from the previous meeting, but it failed to provide much support to the currency.</li>
<li>I expect the forint to lag in the near term unless the central bank turns more aggressive because real rates remain negative and the carry of the currency is low.</li>
<li>Complicating the task of the central bank are the upcoming election in 2022, which has led to the prime minister ramping up pre-election spending, adding to inflationary pressures.</li>
</ul>


The Hungarian central bank increased the size of the rate hike from the previous meeting, but it failed to provide much support to the currency.
I expect the forint to lag in the near term unless the central bank turns more aggressive because real rates remain negative and the carry of the currency is low.
Complicating the task of the central bank are the upcoming election in 2022, which has led to the prime minister ramping up pre-election spending, adding to inflationary pressures.


Forint to Lag Even as the Hungarian Central Bank Raises the Pace of Rate Hikes

<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 27 trade recommendations made so far, I have recommended closing 18 of which 15 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 27 trade recommendations made so far, I have recommended closing 18 of which 15 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 – November 2021

<p>Between July and October, Asian currencies underperformed against the rest of EM. In this note, I address the question: Is the period of underperformance for Asian currencies now behind? With the economic recovery back on track as coronavirus cases drop amid high levels of vaccinations, further monetary easing no longer in the cards, and FX interventions slowing, I expect Asian currencies on aggregate to trade broadly in line with the rest of EM in the near term but not outperform. From a strategy standpoint, I would opportunistically target specific currencies that have underperformed, such as the Thai baht.</p><p>Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market in which I seek to identify the leaders and laggards among currencies by comparing the performance of each to its history as well as to other currencies based on their respective betas to an EM currency index.</p>

Between July and October, Asian currencies underperformed against the rest of EM. In this note, I address the question: Is the period of underperformance for Asian currencies now behind? With the economic recovery back on track as coronavirus cases drop amid high levels of vaccinations, further monetary easing no longer in the cards, and FX interventions slowing, I expect Asian currencies on aggregate to trade broadly in line with the rest of EM in the near term but not outperform. From a strategy standpoint, I would opportunistically target specific currencies that have underperformed, such as the Thai baht.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market in which I seek to identify the leaders and laggards among currencies by comparing the performance of each to its history as well as to other currencies based on their respective betas to an EM currency index.

Is the Period of Underperformance for Asian Currencies Over?

China

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

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Implications of Higher Dollar Volatility for EM Currencies

With the US dollar volatility rising, the environment for EM currencies has turned less supportive and it's best to hedge exposures with the euro...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Chile’s Market-Friendly Election Outcome Allows Exit from Trade Recommendation

The markets reacted positively to Chile's elections in which right-wing parties performed well, which allowed me to recommend taking profits on a...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Forint to Lag Even as the Hungarian Central Bank Raises the Pace of Rate Hikes

I expect the forint to lag in the near term unless the central bank turns more aggressive because real rates remain negative, the carry of the...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Alpha Bites: Performance Summary of Trade Recommendations – November 2021

I provide a performance update of all my trade recommendations along with discussing the open trades. I have recommended closing 18 of the 27...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Is the Period of Underperformance for Asian Currencies Over?

After underperforming between July and October, I expect Asian currencies on aggregate to perform broadly in line with the rest of EM in the near...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)