Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

<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>Financial markets are dominated by uncertainties being created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the potential economic impact of the Fed raising rates and unwinding its balance sheet simultaneously.</li>
<li>The volatility and level of rates in EM are rising with the US but with differentiation: Asia and Central Europe are underperforming, while Latin America is outperforming.</li>
<li>The possibility of binary economic scenarios playing out as a result of the current uncertainties makes me pause for more clarity before making new trade recommendations.</li>
</ul>


Financial markets are dominated by uncertainties being created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the potential economic impact of the Fed raising rates and unwinding its balance sheet simultaneously.
The volatility and level of rates in EM are rising with the US but with differentiation: Asia and Central Europe are underperforming, while Latin America is outperforming.
The possibility of binary economic scenarios playing out as a result of the current uncertainties makes me pause for more clarity before making new trade recommendations.


Rates in Asia Underperform Following the Fed Hike and Russia’s Invasion

<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

<ul>
<li>In line with my view, the US dollar remains strong, with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia providing additional safe-haven bids and putting pressure on EM currencies. </li>
<li>Among EM currencies, the worst hit are Central European currencies as the war has created headwinds to growth in the region especially due to the spike in energy prices.</li>
<li>Authorities in the eurozone and Central Europe have taken steps to mitigate the impact on their economies but the proximity to the war means that some risk premium will remain.</li>
</ul>


In line with my view, the US dollar remains strong, with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia providing additional safe-haven bids and putting pressure on EM currencies. 
Among EM currencies, the worst hit are Central European currencies as the war has created headwinds to growth in the region especially due to the spike in energy prices.
Authorities in the eurozone and Central Europe have taken steps to mitigate the impact on their economies but the proximity to the war means that some risk premium will remain.


In the Line of Fire – Impact on Central European Currencies from Russia’s Invasion

Israel

The Israeli shekel is the official currency of the state of Israel. the US dollar is the official currency of the United states of America

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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

Rates in Asia Underperform Following the Fed Hike and Russia’s Invasion

With financial markets dominated by uncertainties created by Fed tightening and Russia's invasion, rates in Asia and Central Europe are...

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

In the Line of Fire – Impact on Central European Currencies from Russia’s Invasion

Russia's invasion has given another leg up to the US dollar, weighing on EM currencies, particularly in Central Europe despite the steps they have...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

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Market Cap (USDm)

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