Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

<ul>
<li>As the US dollar approaches its highest level in a decade in line with my expectation, I reiterate my view of the dollar remaining strong in the near term.</li>
<li>The dollar spike coincides with the rise in US rates volatility, which makes sense as the market is trapped between Fed tightening and risk aversion arising from rising recession probability.</li>
<li>As the year progresses, I expect the dollar to weaken and the environment to turn supportive of EM currencies. Until then, I recommend relative-value trades and hedging with the euro.</li>
</ul>


As the US dollar approaches its highest level in a decade in line with my expectation, I reiterate my view of the dollar remaining strong in the near term.
The dollar spike coincides with the rise in US rates volatility, which makes sense as the market is trapped between Fed tightening and risk aversion arising from rising recession probability.
As the year progresses, I expect the dollar to weaken and the environment to turn supportive of EM currencies. Until then, I recommend relative-value trades and hedging with the euro.


Revisiting the US Dollar View and Its Implications for EM Currencies

<ul>
<li>The Chilean peso has performed well this year but it has still lagged behind its peers and the broad EM currencies on a longer horizon.</li>
<li>The currency has been weighed down by high oil prices, a dovish turn by the central bank, and concerns around the Constitutional Convention and the possibility of new pension withdrawals.</li>
<li>While these concerns are valid, my view is that the currency should outperform, albeit with high volatility, due to its high carry, cheap valuations, and eventually, diminishing political noise.</li>
</ul>


The Chilean peso has performed well this year but it has still lagged behind its peers and the broad EM currencies on a longer horizon.
The currency has been weighed down by high oil prices, a dovish turn by the central bank, and concerns around the Constitutional Convention and the possibility of new pension withdrawals.
While these concerns are valid, my view is that the currency should outperform, albeit with high volatility, due to its high carry, cheap valuations, and eventually, diminishing political noise.


Chilean Peso Is a Buy if One Can Stomach the Volatility

<ul>
<li>Given the current uncertainties stemming from the Fed monetary tightening and Russia's invasion, trading opportunities are creeping up as short-term mispricing tend to occur in such environments.</li>
<li>One such opportunity could be the South African rand, which has outperformed on a year-to-date basis relative to other emerging market currencies.</li>
<li>I see headwinds for the rand: the carry is low in real terms and versus volatility, the current account is set to deteriorate, growth remains a concern and it's expensive.</li>
</ul>


Given the current uncertainties stemming from the Fed monetary tightening and Russia's invasion, trading opportunities are creeping up as short-term mispricing tend to occur in such environments.
One such opportunity could be the South African rand, which has outperformed on a year-to-date basis relative to other emerging market currencies.
I see headwinds for the rand: the carry is low in real terms and versus volatility, the current account is set to deteriorate, growth remains a concern and it's expensive.


South African Rand’s Outperformance Is Overdone

<ul>
<li>The US dollar has strengthened this year in line with my expectation, but the surprise has been that EM currencies have performed well despite the dollar strengthening.</li>
<li>The solid EM FX performance is entirely due to Latin American currencies which have performed well due to their very high carry, attractive valuations, and positive political developments.</li>
<li>In the near term, I expect LatAm currencies to continue to perform well but the environment may change as the year progresses.</li>
</ul>


The US dollar has strengthened this year in line with my expectation, but the surprise has been that EM currencies have performed well despite the dollar strengthening.
The solid EM FX performance is entirely due to Latin American currencies which have performed well due to their very high carry, attractive valuations, and positive political developments.
In the near term, I expect LatAm currencies to continue to perform well but the environment may change as the year progresses.


<ul>
<li>The Indonesian rupiah has outperformed most EM currencies, particularly other Asian currencies, and has done so with low volatility in contrast with the rising volatility of the EM FX index.</li>
<li>Looking ahead, headwinds may be appearing with the interest-rate differential working against the currency as the Fed starts raising rates and higher inflation leading to lower real rates.</li>
<li>While the rise in commodity prices is generating trade surpluses for now, the current account may turn negative from positive with a rise in imports accompanying the economy's reopening.</li>
</ul>


The Indonesian rupiah has outperformed most EM currencies, particularly other Asian currencies, and has done so with low volatility in contrast with the rising volatility of the EM FX index.
Looking ahead, headwinds may be appearing with the interest-rate differential working against the currency as the Fed starts raising rates and higher inflation leading to lower real rates.
While the rise in commodity prices is generating trade surpluses for now, the current account may turn negative from positive with a rise in imports accompanying the economy's reopening.


Indonesian Rupiah Shines in Volatile Times

Brazil

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

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Revisiting the US Dollar View and Its Implications for EM Currencies

As the US dollar approaches its highest level in a decade, I reiterate my view of the dollar remaining strong in the near term. As the year...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Chilean Peso Is a Buy if One Can Stomach the Volatility

The Chilean peso should outperform in the coming months, albeit with high volatility, due to its high carry, cheap valuations, and eventually,...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

South African Rand’s Outperformance Is Overdone

I see headwinds for the South African rand: the carry is not attractive in real terms or relative to volatility, the current account is set to...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Latin American Currencies on Top

The US dollar has strengthened this year in line with my expectation, but the surprise has been that EM currencies have performed well, led by...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Indonesian Rupiah Shines in Volatile Times

The Indonesian rupiah has outperformed most other EM currencies but headwinds may be appearing for the currency as the Fed starts raising rates and...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)