Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

In this edition of Alpha Bites, I list my current open trade recommendations in EM FX and rates along with links to notes where I discuss the trades in more detail. The tables include expected returns on the trades on a 3-month horizon assuming mean reversion in this period.

In this edition of Alpha Bites, I list my current open trade recommendations in EM FX and rates along with links to notes where I discuss the trades in more detail. The tables include expected returns on the trades on a 3-month horizon assuming mean reversion in this period.

Alpha Bites: Current Trade Recommendations in EM FX and Rates

As the US dollar has come off the peak, EM currencies have benefited, including Asian currencies. The Thai baht is among the currencies that have performed well lately as it has been supported by easing of curbs on falling coronavirus cases, signs of tourism picking up, raising of the debt ceiling to create space for further fiscal stimulus, and the central bank turning less dovish. While there is ample room for the baht to make up its lag with the rest of EM, the currency's recovery is likely to be gradual and marked by volatility.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.

As the US dollar has come off the peak, EM currencies have benefited, including Asian currencies. The Thai baht is among the currencies that have performed well lately as it has been supported by easing of curbs on falling coronavirus cases, signs of tourism picking up, raising of the debt ceiling to create space for further fiscal stimulus, and the central bank turning less dovish. While there is ample room for the baht to make up its lag with the rest of EM, the currency's recovery is likely to be gradual and marked by volatility.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 the Thai Baht Finally Turning?

EM currencies have broadly lagged the rally in commodities this year, but there are signs that this may be changing for at least two of the oil currencies. The Russian ruble has been weighed down by the sanction risk and FX interventions to meet the fiscal rule. The Colombian peso, meanwhile, suffered on the back of the deteriorating fiscal balance and anti-government protests earlier this year. More recently, however, the correlation of both currencies with oil has picked up, leading to them outperforming the broad EM FX universe. If oil prices stay at a high level, it bodes well for both currencies.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.

EM currencies have broadly lagged the rally in commodities this year, but there are signs that this may be changing for at least two of the oil currencies. The Russian ruble has been weighed down by the sanction risk and FX interventions to meet the fiscal rule. The Colombian peso, meanwhile, suffered on the back of the deteriorating fiscal balance and anti-government protests earlier this year. More recently, however, the correlation of both currencies with oil has picked up, leading to them outperforming the broad EM FX universe. If oil prices stay at a high level, it bodes well for both currencies.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: Russian Ruble and Colombian Peso Finally Benefiting from the Oil Rally

Following the hawkish surprise at the last meeting, the Chilean central bank is likely to raise the pace of tightening even further at the MPC meeting tomorrow. Inflation has been rising steadily as the recovery picked up strongly on the back of the strong fiscal and monetary stimulus. More worrisome for the central bank is that long-term inflation expectations have deteriorated. The currency depreciation meanwhile has picked up pace as political uncertainty has risen, adding to inflationary risks. The central bank is thus likely to raise rates very aggressively to anchor inflation expectations and the currency in our view and is possibly evaluating a currency intervention program. Our bullish recommendations on the currency have taken a hit lately.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.

Following the hawkish surprise at the last meeting, the Chilean central bank is likely to raise the pace of tightening even further at the MPC meeting tomorrow. Inflation has been rising steadily as the recovery picked up strongly on the back of the strong fiscal and monetary stimulus. More worrisome for the central bank is that long-term inflation expectations have deteriorated. The currency depreciation meanwhile has picked up pace as political uncertainty has risen, adding to inflationary risks. The central bank is thus likely to raise rates very aggressively to anchor inflation expectations and the currency in our view and is possibly evaluating a currency intervention program. Our bullish recommendations on the currency have taken a hit lately.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: Chilean Central Bank Is Set to Deliver Another Hawkish Surprise

With the US dollar appreciating on rising risk aversion, it is important to see which EM currencies are more vulnerable and which are less if the dollar strengthening continues. To do so, we look at the systematic risk or beta of each EM currency and how it has evolved. We find that the beta has increased for Central European currencies and Asian currencies with the exception of the Indonesian rupiah and the Indian rupee. It has also increased for the Turkish lira but has dropped for the Mexican peso and the Russian ruble, providing us with a template of which currencies to go long or short.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.

With the US dollar appreciating on rising risk aversion, it is important to see which EM currencies are more vulnerable and which are less if the dollar strengthening continues. To do so, we look at the systematic risk or beta of each EM currency and how it has evolved. We find that the beta has increased for Central European currencies and Asian currencies with the exception of the Indonesian rupiah and the Indian rupee. It has also increased for the Turkish lira but has dropped for the Mexican peso and the Russian ruble, providing us with a template of which currencies to go long or short.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: How Have the Sensitivities of EM FX to US Dollar Evolved?

South Korea

The South Korean won is the official currency of The Republic of Korea (South Korea). 

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Alpha Bites: Current Trade Recommendations in EM FX and Rates

In this edition of Alpha Bites, I list my current open trade recommendations in EM FX and rates along with links to notes where I discuss the...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: Is the Thai Baht Finally Turning?

The Thai baht has performed well lately on the easing of curbs and tourism picking up. While there is ample room to make up its previous lag, the...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: Russian Ruble and Colombian Peso Finally Benefiting from the Oil Rally

After lagging the rally in oil since the start of the pandemic, the Russian ruble and the Colombian peso have started to correlate better with oil...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: Chilean Central Bank Is Set to Deliver Another Hawkish Surprise

Following the substantial deterioration of long-term inflation expectations along with the sharp currency depreciation, we expect the central bank...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: How Have the Sensitivities of EM FX to US Dollar Evolved?

We look at the systematic risk or beta of each EM currency to the US dollar and how it has evolved to identify currencies that are more or less...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)