Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

In this week’s Alpha Bites, we recommend receiving the 5-year rate vs paying the 10-year rate in Brazil; more specifically, DI Jan 27 vs DI Jan 31. The rates curve in Brazil has been flattening on a combination of aggressive monetary tightening by the central bank and lowering of the risk premium on a better-than-expected fiscal performance. Given the risks ahead, primarily the likely increase in political uncertainty and the related fiscal slippage heading into next year's presidential election, the curve in Brazil offers an attractive entry point for a 5s10s steepener to express a bearish view.

In this week’s Alpha Bites, we recommend receiving the 5-year rate vs paying the 10-year rate in Brazil; more specifically, DI Jan 27 vs DI Jan 31. The rates curve in Brazil has been flattening on a combination of aggressive monetary tightening by the central bank and lowering of the risk premium on a better-than-expected fiscal performance. Given the risks ahead, primarily the likely increase in political uncertainty and the related fiscal slippage heading into next year's presidential election, the curve in Brazil offers an attractive entry point for a 5s10s steepener to express a bearish view.

Alpha Bites: A DV01-Neutral 5s10s Steepener in Brazil

The rates curve in Brazil has been flattening on a combination of aggressive monetary tightening by the central bank and lowering of the risk premium on a better-than-expected fiscal performance. Given the risks ahead, primarily the rise in political uncertainty heading into next year's presidential election and the likely fiscal slippage, a curve steepener in Brazil offers an attractive entry point to express a bearish view. A low-risk approach to express the same view is via a butterfly.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM 10y rates market in which we seek to identify the leaders and laggards among countries by comparing the performance of each to its history as well as to other countries based on their respective betas to an EM rates index.

The rates curve in Brazil has been flattening on a combination of aggressive monetary tightening by the central bank and lowering of the risk premium on a better-than-expected fiscal performance. Given the risks ahead, primarily the rise in political uncertainty heading into next year's presidential election and the likely fiscal slippage, a curve steepener in Brazil offers an attractive entry point to express a bearish view. A low-risk approach to express the same view is via a butterfly.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM 10y rates market in which we seek to identify the leaders and laggards among countries by comparing the performance of each to its history as well as to other countries based on their respective betas to an EM rates index.

Rates 10y Dashboard: Does the Curve Flattening in Brazil Offer an Opportunity?

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

As the US dollar has strengthened this month, it has weighed on EM currencies. Several Asian currencies, in particular, have been among the worst performers, adjusted for their respective betas. Among them, Korean won has underperformed on a combination of low carry and FX interventions. The carry should rise as the central bank has started its tightening cycle, but it is likely to be gradual. Moreover, the recent missile test by North Korea and the lowering of the country's potential growth by the central bank have weighed on the currency. Our view is that the currency is now reflecting these risks and should gradually close its gap with the rest of EM.

As the US dollar has strengthened this month, it has weighed on EM currencies. Several Asian currencies, in particular, have been among the worst performers, adjusted for their respective betas. Among them, Korean won has underperformed on a combination of low carry and FX interventions. The carry should rise as the central bank has started its tightening cycle, but it is likely to be gradual. Moreover, the recent missile test by North Korea and the lowering of the country's potential growth by the central bank have weighed on the currency. Our view is that the currency is now reflecting these risks and should gradually close its gap with the rest of EM.

FX Dashboard: Is Korean Won’s Underperformance Overdone?

We revisit our thesis from early July when we argued that monetary policy was the primary driver of the differentiation within EM currencies. Based on current correlations, we modify the statement to say that the thesis now applies to most but not all currencies. We identify the outliers and connect them with our recent trade recommendation to buy the Chilean peso against the South African rand.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.

We revisit our thesis from early July when we argued that monetary policy was the primary driver of the differentiation within EM currencies. Based on current correlations, we modify the statement to say that the thesis now applies to most but not all currencies. We identify the outliers and connect them with our recent trade recommendation to buy the Chilean peso against the South African rand.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: Is Monetary Policy Still Driving FX Returns?

Brazil

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

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Alpha Bites: A DV01-Neutral 5s10s Steepener in Brazil

The curve flattening in Brazil offers an attractive entry point to express a bearish view given the likely increase in political uncertainty...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Rates 10y Dashboard: Does the Curve Flattening in Brazil Offer an Opportunity?

With political uncertainty and fiscal slippage likely to rise heading into next year's presidential election, a curve steepener in Brazil offers an...

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

FX Dashboard: Is Korean Won’s Underperformance Overdone?

The Korean won has underperformed on a combination of low carry, FX interventions, and more recently, North Korea's missile test, which should all...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: Is Monetary Policy Still Driving FX Returns?

We modify our thesis from early July when we argued that monetary policy was the primary driver of the differentiation within EM currencies to say...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)