Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

<ul>
<li>Foreign investments in China’s government bonds had been on the rise in recent years with the market appearing to acquire a safe-haven status as it became more accessible and liquid.</li>
<li>Russia's invasion of Ukraine may have changed this as the country is likely to default despite its large international reserves, which presents spillover risks to others, particularly China.</li>
<li>After suffering heavy losses in Russian holdings, investors are likely to factor in political and geopolitical risks more explicitly going forward, which would work against China.</li>
</ul>


Foreign investments in China’s government bonds had been on the rise in recent years with the market appearing to acquire a safe-haven status as it became more accessible and liquid.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine may have changed this as the country is likely to default despite its large international reserves, which presents spillover risks to others, particularly China.
After suffering heavy losses in Russian holdings, investors are likely to factor in political and geopolitical risks more explicitly going forward, which would work against China.


Early Signs of a Geopolitical Risk Premium in China’s Bonds?

<ul>
<li>US rates are trapped between inflationary pressures on one hand, and risk aversion and growth uncertainty on the other, with the latter dominating for now.</li>
<li>The previous strong correlation of EM rates with the US has now flipped as they continue to rise even with US rates rallying.</li>
<li>The spread of EM rates to the US is at its widest in a decade but it should remain that way as long as rates volatility remains high.</li>
</ul>


US rates are trapped between inflationary pressures on one hand, and risk aversion and growth uncertainty on the other, with the latter dominating for now.
The previous strong correlation of EM rates with the US has now flipped as they continue to rise even with US rates rallying.
The spread of EM rates to the US is at its widest in a decade but it should remain that way as long as rates volatility remains high.


EM Rates Detach from the US Amid Russian Contagion

<ul>
<li>In my monthly recap note, I provide a performance update of my trade recommendations in emerging markets FX and rates.</li>
<li>Of the total of 35 trade recommendations made so far, I have recommended closing 25 of which 18 were in the money.</li>
<li>I also update my views on the open trade recommendations and go over the rationale behind those that I closed recently.</li>
</ul>


In my monthly recap note, I provide a performance update of my trade recommendations in emerging markets FX and rates.
Of the total of 35 trade recommendations made so far, I have recommended closing 25 of which 18 were in the money.
I also update my views on the open trade recommendations and go over the rationale behind those that I closed recently.


Alpha Bites: Performance Summary of Trade Recommendations in FX and Rates – March 2022

<ul>
<li>Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, it is only a matter of time before the US and other western allies impose a new set of economic sanctions on Russia</li>
<li>A directive from the US Treasury this week expanded the restrictions on Russian bonds as it prohibits participating in the secondary market of new bonds, thereby cutting financing for Russia. </li>
<li>With new sanctions on the way, the risks to Russian bonds have increased. I list the possible risks for holders of Russian bonds under different scenarios.</li>
</ul>


Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, it is only a matter of time before the US and other western allies impose a new set of economic sanctions on Russia
A directive from the US Treasury this week expanded the restrictions on Russian bonds as it prohibits participating in the secondary market of new bonds, thereby cutting financing for Russia. 
With new sanctions on the way, the risks to Russian bonds have increased. I list the possible risks for holders of Russian bonds under different scenarios.


Risks to Russian Bonds from Escalating Sanctions

<ul>
<li>Brazil's rate curve has gone through significant transformations in the past few months, with the curve currently exhibiting a hump in the front end and a kink 3 years out.</li>
<li>The driver behind the hump has been the aggressive rate hikes and the kink is resulting from increasing risk premium in the long end arising from fiscal and election uncertainty.</li>
<li>I expect the kink to get pronounced as more rate cuts get priced with inflation coming off the peak and growth slowing, while risk premium increases heading into the election.</li>
</ul>


Brazil's rate curve has gone through significant transformations in the past few months, with the curve currently exhibiting a hump in the front end and a kink 3 years out.
The driver behind the hump has been the aggressive rate hikes and the kink is resulting from increasing risk premium in the long end arising from fiscal and election uncertainty.
I expect the kink to get pronounced as more rate cuts get priced with inflation coming off the peak and growth slowing, while risk premium increases heading into the election.


A Hump and a Kink in Brazil’s Yield Curve

Colombia

A vanila interest rate swap us an agreement between two counterparties to exchange cashflows (fixed vs floating) in the same currency. This agreement is often used by counterparties to change their fixed cashflows to floating or vice versa. The payments are made during the life of the swap in the frequency that is pre-established by the counterparties.

COP 10Y (CLSWIB10 CURNCY)

Early Signs of a Geopolitical Risk Premium in China’s Bonds?

China's government bonds were being viewed as a safe-haven asset but Russia's invasion of Ukraine may have changed this with geopolitical risks...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

EM Rates Detach from the US Amid Russian Contagion

The spread of EM rates to the US is at its widest in a decade but it should remain that way as long as rates volatility remains high, given the...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Alpha Bites: Performance Summary of Trade Recommendations in FX and Rates – March 2022

I provide a performance update of all my trade recommendations along with discussing the open trades. I have closed 25 of the 35 trades recommended...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Risks to Russian Bonds from Escalating Sanctions

With new sanctions on the way, the risks to Russian bonds have increased. I list the possible risks for holders of Russian bonds under different...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

A Hump and a Kink in Brazil’s Yield Curve

I expect the hump and kink in Brazil's curve to get more pronounced as more rate cuts and a higher risk premium is priced, which should lead to a...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA