Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

<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?

Chart based progressive global trading strategies, Chart Partners

Thomas Schroeder

Chart based progressive global trading strategies

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Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>USD pullback in Asia is expected to be limited but does show near term risk of a shakeout of crowded positioning (JPY and SGD bets). CAD is a conviction short.</li>
<li>USD/INR met the 77.80 target to lock in gains. USD/KRW is a top USD long near trendline at 1,265/70.</li>
<li>USD/CNH pullback support at 6.70. AUD short zone lifted on SPX and RSI alignment. SPX flat breakout points will drive the USD in coming sessions.</li>
</ul>


USD pullback in Asia is expected to be limited but does show near term risk of a shakeout of crowded positioning (JPY and SGD bets). CAD is a conviction short.
USD/INR met the 77.80 target to lock in gains. USD/KRW is a top USD long near trendline at 1,265/70.
USD/CNH pullback support at 6.70. AUD short zone lifted on SPX and RSI alignment. SPX flat breakout points will drive the USD in coming sessions.


<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?

Asia biased macro & technical analysis, Untying The Gordian Knot

Untying The Gordian Knot

Asia biased macro & technical analysis

A differentiated process with a primary focus on Asia. Technical Analysis as core and Macro drivers that could bring the view to fruition & changes that could make the idea fall apart. The objective is to be the best in class, hence corner shop.

<ul><li>Efforts to identify peak inflation and yields or lows in growth stocks and new investments have not worked in 2022.  </li><li>The assumption has been that prices should revert towards the mean once they have moved 3-5 standard deviations away as they have done in the last decade.</li><li>If we use what has happened to yield in the last 35+ years as a framework. You would continue to look for peak yields as soon as we start approaching the trend channel or key resistance and plotting the next financial crisis to coincide with yield reversals.</li></ul>

Efforts to identify peak inflation and yields or lows in growth stocks and new investments have not worked in 2022.  The assumption has been that prices should revert towards the mean once they have moved 3-5 standard deviations away as they have done in the last decade.If we use what has happened to yield in the last 35+ years as a framework. You would continue to look for peak yields as soon as we start approaching the trend channel or key resistance and plotting the next financial crisis to coincide with yield reversals.

South Korea

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

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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

Asian FX Action Levels

USD pullback in Asia is expected to be limited but does show near term risk of a shakeout of crowded positioning (JPY and SGD bets). CAD is a...

Thomas Schroeder

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

Positioning and Imbalances

Efforts to identify peak inflation and yields or lows in growth stocks and new investments have not worked in 2022. The assumption has been...

Untying The Gordian Knot

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