Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

Following the hawkish surprise at the last meeting, the Chilean central bank is likely to raise the pace of tightening even further at the MPC meeting tomorrow. Inflation has been rising steadily as the recovery picked up strongly on the back of the strong fiscal and monetary stimulus. More worrisome for the central bank is that long-term inflation expectations have deteriorated. The currency depreciation meanwhile has picked up pace as political uncertainty has risen, adding to inflationary risks. The central bank is thus likely to raise rates very aggressively to anchor inflation expectations and the currency in our view and is possibly evaluating a currency intervention program. Our bullish recommendations on the currency have taken a hit lately.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market in which we 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.

Following the hawkish surprise at the last meeting, the Chilean central bank is likely to raise the pace of tightening even further at the MPC meeting tomorrow. Inflation has been rising steadily as the recovery picked up strongly on the back of the strong fiscal and monetary stimulus. More worrisome for the central bank is that long-term inflation expectations have deteriorated. The currency depreciation meanwhile has picked up pace as political uncertainty has risen, adding to inflationary risks. The central bank is thus likely to raise rates very aggressively to anchor inflation expectations and the currency in our view and is possibly evaluating a currency intervention program. Our bullish recommendations on the currency have taken a hit lately.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market in which we 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.

FX Dashboard: Chilean Central Bank Is Set to Deliver Another Hawkish Surprise

With the US dollar appreciating on rising risk aversion, it is important to see which EM currencies are more vulnerable and which are less if the dollar strengthening continues. To do so, we look at the systematic risk or beta of each EM currency and how it has evolved. We find that the beta has increased for Central European currencies and Asian currencies with the exception of the Indonesian rupiah and the Indian rupee. It has also increased for the Turkish lira but has dropped for the Mexican peso and the Russian ruble, providing us with a template of which currencies to go long or short.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market in which we 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.

With the US dollar appreciating on rising risk aversion, it is important to see which EM currencies are more vulnerable and which are less if the dollar strengthening continues. To do so, we look at the systematic risk or beta of each EM currency and how it has evolved. We find that the beta has increased for Central European currencies and Asian currencies with the exception of the Indonesian rupiah and the Indian rupee. It has also increased for the Turkish lira but has dropped for the Mexican peso and the Russian ruble, providing us with a template of which currencies to go long or short.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market in which we 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.

FX Dashboard: How Have the Sensitivities of EM FX to US Dollar Evolved?

With the dollar strengthening this month, EM currencies have suffered, which is reminiscent of a similar episode in Q1. However, there is greater differentiation this time around, both on a regional basis as well as at the country level. We go over the outliers to identify the reasons they did not react entirely based on their respective betas. If there is no explanation for the deviation, then the idiosyncratic behavior is likely not justified and may represent a trading opportunity.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market in which we 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.

With the dollar strengthening this month, EM currencies have suffered, which is reminiscent of a similar episode in Q1. However, there is greater differentiation this time around, both on a regional basis as well as at the country level. We go over the outliers to identify the reasons they did not react entirely based on their respective betas. If there is no explanation for the deviation, then the idiosyncratic behavior is likely not justified and may represent a trading opportunity.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market in which we 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.

FX Dashboard: Winners and Losers in EM FX Amidst Dollar Strengthening

While our baseline scenario remains one of the US dollar trading in a range over the coming months, the risk of the range being breached in the near term has increased due to rising US Treasury yields, the possibility of a US government shutdown, an ongoing energy crisis in Europe, and risks from China including a growth slowdown, crackdown of tech companies, and the debt default of one of the largest property developers. Given these risks, for the time being, we recommend hedging EM currencies with the euro, as the two have been highly correlated.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market in which we 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.

While our baseline scenario remains one of the US dollar trading in a range over the coming months, the risk of the range being breached in the near term has increased due to rising US Treasury yields, the possibility of a US government shutdown, an ongoing energy crisis in Europe, and risks from China including a growth slowdown, crackdown of tech companies, and the debt default of one of the largest property developers. Given these risks, for the time being, we recommend hedging EM currencies with the euro, as the two have been highly correlated.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market in which we 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.

FX Dashboard: Time to Hedge EM FX with Euro Again

In this week’s Alpha Bites, we recommend buying the Korean won (KRW) against the Chinese renminbi (CNY). The won has underperformed partly because of the low carry and FX interventions, with the recent missile test by North Korea and downgrading of the country’s potential growth by the central bank adding to the negative sentiment. Meanwhile, the renminbi is not reflecting the ongoing growth weakness in the country or pricing any risk premium related to the acute sell-off in Chinese equities. With the two currencies trading at extremes, we recommend the KRW against CNY cross in a beta-neutral ratio.

In this week’s Alpha Bites, we recommend buying the Korean won (KRW) against the Chinese renminbi (CNY). The won has underperformed partly because of the low carry and FX interventions, with the recent missile test by North Korea and downgrading of the country’s potential growth by the central bank adding to the negative sentiment. Meanwhile, the renminbi is not reflecting the ongoing growth weakness in the country or pricing any risk premium related to the acute sell-off in Chinese equities. With the two currencies trading at extremes, we recommend the KRW against CNY cross in a beta-neutral ratio.

Alpha Bites: Long Korean Won Vs Short Chinese Renminbi

South Korea

The South Korean won is the official currency of The Republic of Korea (South Korea). 

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FX Dashboard: Chilean Central Bank Is Set to Deliver Another Hawkish Surprise

Following the substantial deterioration of long-term inflation expectations along with the sharp currency depreciation, we expect the central bank...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: How Have the Sensitivities of EM FX to US Dollar Evolved?

We look at the systematic risk or beta of each EM currency to the US dollar and how it has evolved to identify currencies that are more or less...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: Winners and Losers in EM FX Amidst Dollar Strengthening

In the latest bout of dollar strengthening, we go over the outperformers and underperformers among EM currencies to identify potential trading...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: Time to Hedge EM FX with Euro Again

Given the rising near-term risks to our view of the dollar trading in a range over the coming months, we recommend hedging EM currencies with the...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Alpha Bites: Long Korean Won Vs Short Chinese Renminbi

We recommend a beta-neutral Long Korean won/Short Chinese renminbi trade on the back of poor performance of the won while renminbi is not...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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