Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

In this week’s “Alpha Bites”, we recommend going long the South Korean won (KRW) against shorting the Taiwan dollar (TWD) in a risk-neutral ratio, with the won underperforming particularly since the start of the year.

In this week’s “Alpha Bites”, we recommend going long the South Korean won (KRW) against shorting the Taiwan dollar (TWD) in a risk-neutral ratio, with the won underperforming particularly since the start of the year.

Alpha Bites: Long Korean Won (KRW) Vs Short Taiwan Dollar (TWD)

In this note, we go over the factors driving the lira's performance and our view on the currency. The attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market. The analysis, therefore, is not a forecasting tool but to be used for identifying dislocations, which we loosely define as price moves that cannot be justified by fundamentals.

In this note, we go over the factors driving the lira's performance and our view on the currency. The attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market. The analysis, therefore, is not a forecasting tool but to be used for identifying dislocations, which we loosely define as price moves that cannot be justified by fundamentals.

FX Dashboard: Explaining Lira's Outperformance

In today's note, we look at the EM FX-EUR correlation and recommend funding positions in EM currencies in euro for the time being. The attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market. The analysis, therefore, is not a forecasting tool but to be used for identifying dislocations, which we loosely define as price moves that cannot be justified by fundamentals.

In today's note, we look at the EM FX-EUR correlation and recommend funding positions in EM currencies in euro for the time being. The attached file is a snapshot of the EM currency market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market. The analysis, therefore, is not a forecasting tool but to be used for identifying dislocations, which we loosely define as price moves that cannot be justified by fundamentals.

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Olivier Desbarres

Exacting. Excellent. Exceeding. Exemplary.

4X Global Research

4X Global Research was founded in 2017 to provide institutional and corporate clients with the substantive research, high-quality analysis and thoughtful insight on Emerging and G20 economies and financial markets they need to make informed and timely decisions and gain an edge in their investments.

This report updates the monthly seasonal patterns of 31 major Nominal Effective Exchange Rates(NEERs) going back to January 2010, using over two million daily data points with trade-weights derived from the<a href="https://www.bis.org/statistics/eer.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BIS</a> (April 2019) and national central banks (see <a href="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/948838a86ce72ab6d8019a39d/files/15f4d8a9-56a4-46fd-9d78-607e5fd523e6/4X_Global_Research_Nominal_Effective_Exchange_Rates_Monthly_seasonal_patterns.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nominal Effective Exchange Rates: Monthly seasonal patterns</a>, 10th January 2019). A number of factors can drive currency seasonality, including underlying seasonal patterns in balance of payment flows, the timing of public holidays and market liquidity. Identifying monthly seasonal patterns and why they may break down (significant changes in central bank or government policy, market positioning, macro data surprises and unexpected domestic events) can thus potentially augment investment returns and generate alpha.Unsurprisingly the Covid-19 pandemic – a once-in-a-lifetime “black swan” event – and accompanying measures such as national lockdowns severely disrupted typical monthly seasonal currency patterns in 2020, particularly in March and June (the trough and peak in global risk appetite) but also in Q4, with a few exceptions (see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/monthly-currency-seasonality-down-and-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monthly currency seasonality: Down and out?</a>, 4th January 2021). A number of emerging and developed market currencies continued to deviate from their 2010-2019 historical patterns in January 2021. In particular the “normally” strong Brazilian Real and to a lesser extent Colombian Peso and Polish Zloty depreciated. The Swiss Franc, contrary to history and in line with our forecast, also weakened slightly. The South African Rand depreciated 2.1%, five times as much as its 11-year historical average.Conversely the “normally” weak Turkish Lira was the outperformer, with the NEER appreciating nearly 4%. Sterling, the Australian Dollar and Norwegian Krone also outperformed in January relative to their historical seasonal patterns. However, and while early days, about 17 currencies, including the Dollar, Euro, Kiwi Dollar, Mexican Peso and most Asian currencies performed in line with their historical seasonality.Based on 2010-19 data Thai Baht, Norwegian Krone, Hungarian Forint and Polish Zloty were strongest currencies in the month of February while Korean Won was the weakest.

This report updates the monthly seasonal patterns of 31 major Nominal Effective Exchange Rates(NEERs) going back to January 2010, using over two million daily data points with trade-weights derived from theBIS (April 2019) and national central banks (see Nominal Effective Exchange Rates: Monthly seasonal patterns, 10th January 2019). A number of factors can drive currency seasonality, including underlying seasonal patterns in balance of payment flows, the timing of public holidays and market liquidity. Identifying monthly seasonal patterns and why they may break down (significant changes in central bank or government policy, market positioning, macro data surprises and unexpected domestic events) can thus potentially augment investment returns and generate alpha.Unsurprisingly the Covid-19 pandemic – a once-in-a-lifetime “black swan” event – and accompanying measures such as national lockdowns severely disrupted typical monthly seasonal currency patterns in 2020, particularly in March and June (the trough and peak in global risk appetite) but also in Q4, with a few exceptions (see Monthly currency seasonality: Down and out?, 4th January 2021). A number of emerging and developed market currencies continued to deviate from their 2010-2019 historical patterns in January 2021. In particular the “normally” strong Brazilian Real and to a lesser extent Colombian Peso and Polish Zloty depreciated. The Swiss Franc, contrary to history and in line with our forecast, also weakened slightly. The South African Rand depreciated 2.1%, five times as much as its 11-year historical average.Conversely the “normally” weak Turkish Lira was the outperformer, with the NEER appreciating nearly 4%. Sterling, the Australian Dollar and Norwegian Krone also outperformed in January relative to their historical seasonal patterns. However, and while early days, about 17 currencies, including the Dollar, Euro, Kiwi Dollar, Mexican Peso and most Asian currencies performed in line with their historical seasonality.Based on 2010-19 data Thai Baht, Norwegian Krone, Hungarian Forint and Polish Zloty were strongest currencies in the month of February while Korean Won was the weakest.

Founder & Chief Market Strategist - SAV Markets, SAV Markets

Shyam Devani

Founder & Chief Market Strategist - SAV Markets

Cross Asset Strategy

Earlier this month a note titled <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/the-pain-and-the-gain-in-equities-and-fx" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:47142" rel="noopener">The Pain and the Gain in Equities and FX</a> was shared on SmartKarma trying to highlight the short term risks in these markets. In that note it was concluded that one should “look out for opportunities to re-engage in equity markets anywhere between 5%-10% below current levels. Similarly expect signals to short the USD again over the weeks ahead.”
As we now appear to be in the middle of this correction down in many equity indices, the following note attempts to highlight key support zones for major indices around the world in preparation for re-engaging in markets for a longer lasting and more underlying bull trend.

Earlier this month a note titled The Pain and the Gain in Equities and FX was shared on SmartKarma trying to highlight the short term risks in these markets. In that note it was concluded that one should “look out for opportunities to re-engage in equity markets anywhere between 5%-10% below current levels. Similarly expect signals to short the USD again over the weeks ahead.”
As we now appear to be in the middle of this correction down in many equity indices, the following note attempts to highlight key support zones for major indices around the world in preparation for re-engaging in markets for a longer lasting and more underlying bull trend. 

Where to Prepare for the 'Gain' in Equities

South Korea

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

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KRW (USDKRW CURNCY)

Alpha Bites: Long Korean Won (KRW) Vs Short Taiwan Dollar (TWD)

With the Taiwan dollar (TWD) outperforming the South Korean won (KRW), especially since the start of the year, we recommend going long KRW against...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: Explaining Lira's Outperformance

Attached is our daily FX Dashboard that highlights dislocations in EM currency markets. In this note, we go over the factors driving the lira's...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: Fund EM FX in EUR

Attached is our daily FX Dashboard that highlights dislocations in EM currency markets. In today's note, we discuss EM FX-EUR correlation and...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Currency Seasonality’s Slow Comeback?

Identifying currencies' monthly seasonal patterns and why they may break down can potentially generate alpha. Seasonal patterns broke down in 2020...

Olivier Desbarres

Where to Prepare for the 'Gain' in Equities

As we correct down in many equity indices, this note attempts to identify levels where markets are likely to be supported

Shyam Devani

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