Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

<ul>
<li>Notwithstanding the economic uncertainties, with the Fed’s path better defined now than a few weeks ago, I expect the volatility of rates to peak in the coming weeks.</li>
<li>Uncertainty around the Fed's rate hikes has been spilling over to the monetary policy paths of EM countries even though many of them have been raising rates since last year.</li>
<li>If the US rates volatility falls as I expect, then it will be supportive of the short ends of EM rate curves in Latin American and Central European countries.</li>
</ul>


Notwithstanding the economic uncertainties, with the Fed’s path better defined now than a few weeks ago, I expect the volatility of rates to peak in the coming weeks.
Uncertainty around the Fed's rate hikes has been spilling over to the monetary policy paths of EM countries even though many of them have been raising rates since last year.
If the US rates volatility falls as I expect, then it will be supportive of the short ends of EM rate curves in Latin American and Central European countries.


The rate curve in the US has been flattening lately as the short-end moved higher with rate hikes getting priced and the long end coming off the peak. Other countries have followed the flattening trend, including in emerging markets (EM). In contrast with the US though, EM rate curves have flattened more dramatically and have experienced bear-flattening. The recent trend allowed me to suggest taking profits on some of my flattening recommendations, but has worked against my steepening recommendations. Given the extreme levels, however, I recommend continuing to hold on to the steepeners for now.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM 10y rates market in which I 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 rate curve in the US has been flattening lately as the short-end moved higher with rate hikes getting priced and the long end coming off the peak. Other countries have followed the flattening trend, including in emerging markets (EM). In contrast with the US though, EM rate curves have flattened more dramatically and have experienced bear-flattening. The recent trend allowed me to suggest taking profits on some of my flattening recommendations, but has worked against my steepening recommendations. Given the extreme levels, however, I recommend continuing to hold on to the steepeners for now.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM 10y rates market in which I 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.

Flattening of Rate Curves in EM Far Exceeds the US

Since late September, the US 10y yield has moved higher by around 30 bp while EM 10y rates have risen even more by over 50 bp on average. Peru is the only major EM country where rates have rallied even as they have sold off elsewhere. Several drivers have been behind the recent rally in Peru’s rates. The most prominent ones are signs of moderation by the president as he shuffled his cabinet and ratified the market-friendly central bank governor. The rally, however, looks overdone as the post-election risk premium has been erased and the 10y yield in Peru is low in comparison with the volatility which is expected to remain high. I would thus look for opportunities to pay long-end rates in Peru against another country.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM 10y rates market in which I 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.

Since late September, the US 10y yield has moved higher by around 30 bp while EM 10y rates have risen even more by over 50 bp on average. Peru is the only major EM country where rates have rallied even as they have sold off elsewhere. Several drivers have been behind the recent rally in Peru’s rates. The most prominent ones are signs of moderation by the president as he shuffled his cabinet and ratified the market-friendly central bank governor. The rally, however, looks overdone as the post-election risk premium has been erased and the 10y yield in Peru is low in comparison with the volatility which is expected to remain high. I would thus look for opportunities to pay long-end rates in Peru against another country.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of the EM 10y rates market in which I 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: Rally in Peru’s Rates Is Overdone

In this note, we address the reasons behind the underperformance of South Korean bonds relative to interest-rate swaps and argue that further widening of the asset swap spread may present an opportunity.The attached file is a snapshot of EM 10y rates market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market.

In this note, we address the reasons behind the underperformance of South Korean bonds relative to interest-rate swaps and argue that further widening of the asset swap spread may present an opportunity.The attached file is a snapshot of EM 10y rates market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market.

Rates 10y Dashboard: Korean Asset Swap Spreads Have Widened

In this note, we discuss the reaction of Mexican rates to yesterday's central bank decision and our view on long-end rates.The attached file is a snapshot of the EM 10y rates market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market. The analysis, therefore, is not a forecasting tool but to be used for identifying dislocations, which we loosely define as price moves that cannot be justified by fundamentals.

In this note, we discuss the reaction of Mexican rates to yesterday's central bank decision and our view on long-end rates.The attached file is a snapshot of the EM 10y rates market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market. The analysis, therefore, is not a forecasting tool but to be used for identifying dislocations, which we loosely define as price moves that cannot be justified by fundamentals.

Rates 10y Dashboard: Mexican Rates Post MPC Decision

KRW 10Y (KWSWNI10 CURNCY)

How Are Fed’s Rate Hikes Impacting EM?

I expect the volatility of rates to peak in the coming weeks, which should be supportive of the short ends of EM rate curves in Latin American and...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Flattening of Rate Curves in EM Far Exceeds the US

The recent rate curve flattening trend has allowed me to suggest taking profits on some of my trade recommendations but has hurt the steepening...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Rates 10y Dashboard: Rally in Peru’s Rates Is Overdone

The recent shift towards the center by Peru's newly-elected president has caused the country's bonds to rally sharply. While a drop in risk premium...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Rates 10y Dashboard: Korean Asset Swap Spreads Have Widened

We address the reasons behind the underperformance of South Korean bonds relative to interest-rate swaps and argue that further widening of the...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Rates 10y Dashboard: Mexican Rates Post MPC Decision

Attached is our daily Rates 10y Dashboard that identifies dislocations in EM 10y rates markets. In this note, we discuss the reaction of Mexican...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA