Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX & Rates

<ul>
<li>With Russia invading Ukraine, my view of the dollar remaining strong and possibly appreciating further in the near term is playing out.</li>
<li>EM currencies have weathered the spillover from Russia and dollar strengthening well so far, but this may be about to change as their (negative) beta to the dollar has increased.</li>
<li>Beyond the near term, the outlook for the dollar and EM currencies has become hazy given the uncertainty emanating from Russia's invasion and the fallout of the sanctions.</li>
</ul>


With Russia invading Ukraine, my view of the dollar remaining strong and possibly appreciating further in the near term is playing out.
EM currencies have weathered the spillover from Russia and dollar strengthening well so far, but this may be about to change as their (negative) beta to the dollar has increased.
Beyond the near term, the outlook for the dollar and EM currencies has become hazy given the uncertainty emanating from Russia's invasion and the fallout of the sanctions.


Contagion Risks from Russia to Other EM Currencies

<ul>
<li>In an environment marked by uncertainty with regards to the dollar's next move, EM currencies have been stable and LatAm currencies have outperformed Asia and CEEMEA so far this year.</li>
<li>The strong start for LatAm currencies is partly to make up for their underperformance last year and partly supported by their high carry relative to other currencies.</li>
<li>If risk aversion remains low, this trend should persist but given the uncertainty, it is best to be selective and target relative-value trades to take advantage of differences across countries.</li>
</ul>


In an environment marked by uncertainty with regards to the dollar's next move, EM currencies have been stable and LatAm currencies have outperformed Asia and CEEMEA so far this year.
The strong start for LatAm currencies is partly to make up for their underperformance last year and partly supported by their high carry relative to other currencies.
If risk aversion remains low, this trend should persist but given the uncertainty, it is best to be selective and target relative-value trades to take advantage of differences across countries.


Will Latin American Currencies Continue to Outperform Against Asia and CEEMEA?

<ul>
<li>Since the end of last year, the US dollar has persisted around its strongest level in two years on the back of rising US Treasury yields and risk aversion.</li>
<li>I expect the dollar to remain strong at least until the US rates volatility drops meaningfully and the headwinds to US equities, including geopolitical and domestic growth concerns, fade.</li>
<li>Once these risks pass, the dollar – which is expensive in valuation terms – should depreciate as the year progresses, creating a supportive environment for EM currencies.</li>
</ul>


Since the end of last year, the US dollar has persisted around its strongest level in two years on the back of rising US Treasury yields and risk aversion.
I expect the dollar to remain strong at least until the US rates volatility drops meaningfully and the headwinds to US equities, including geopolitical and domestic growth concerns, fade.
Once these risks pass, the dollar – which is expensive in valuation terms – should depreciate as the year progresses, creating a supportive environment for EM currencies.


The US Dollar View and Its Implications for EM Currencies

Chart based progressive global trading strategies, Chart Partners

Thomas Schroeder

Chart based progressive global trading strategies

Chart Partners

Chart Partners objective is to discover medium-term cycle turns and profit opportunities before they unfold, within structural trends while preserving capital with clear degrees of risk. We have real return ideas. 

Markets are dynamic and trading systems must reflect this. It is crucial to determine underlying correlations and lead-lag relationships within global markets and the impact on linked instruments. Our weekly Chartonics product gives you short-term trading strategies that can be applied within the medium and longer term macro trends that are mapped out in our strategy updates. 

Our methodology fuses global market variables and isolates drivers in trends. We specialize in FX, index trade in NY and Asia with a focus on Asian stocks. 

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>DXY call for a top near 97.50-98 is unfolding. A re test to set up an opportunity to short the USD as yields push into a near term topping zone.</li>
<li>Divisions exist between the Euro bottoming and risk FX (AUD and ZAR) with latent USD bull support. Q2 equity risk off a key driver for risk FX.</li>
<li>US 10yr close to our 1.95% PT, above would see an unsustainable push above 2% that would align with a USD topping process.</li>
</ul>


DXY call for a top near 97.50-98 is unfolding. A re test to set up an opportunity to short the USD as yields push into a near term topping zone.
Divisions exist between the Euro bottoming and risk FX (AUD and ZAR) with latent USD bull support. Q2 equity risk off a key driver for risk FX.
US 10yr close to our 1.95% PT, above would see an unsustainable push above 2% that would align with a USD topping process.


<ul>
<li>The US dollar has started appreciating again on the back of a safe-haven bid with risk aversion rising due to the Fed's upcoming rate-hiking cycle and the Russia-Ukraine tensions.</li>
<li>Given my expectation of rising dollar volatility, I had recommended hedging a diversified EMFX portfolio with the euro. Indeed, the euro hedge has worked well over the past three months.</li>
<li>I continue to prescribe maintaining the euro hedge. If the dollar remains volatile, I don't expect the low volatility of EM currencies – dragged lower by Asia – to persist. </li>
</ul>


The US dollar has started appreciating again on the back of a safe-haven bid with risk aversion rising due to the Fed's upcoming rate-hiking cycle and the Russia-Ukraine tensions.
Given my expectation of rising dollar volatility, I had recommended hedging a diversified EMFX portfolio with the euro. Indeed, the euro hedge has worked well over the past three months.
I continue to prescribe maintaining the euro hedge. If the dollar remains volatile, I don't expect the low volatility of EM currencies – dragged lower by Asia – to persist. 


Value of Euro as a Hedge for EM Currencies in Times Like These

United States

The U.S. Dollar Index(USDX) indicates the general int'l value of the USD. The USDX does this by averaging the exchange rates between the USD and  major world currencies.  The ICE US computes this by using the rates supplied by some 500 banks. FOR REAL TIME SEE EIS ICEA<GO>. 

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Dollar Index (DXY CURNCY)

Contagion Risks from Russia to Other EM Currencies

EM currencies have weathered the dollar strengthening well so far, but this may be about to change as their (negative) beta to the dollar has...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Will Latin American Currencies Continue to Outperform Against Asia and CEEMEA?

If risk aversion remains low, LatAm currencies should continue to outperform but given the uncertainty, it is best to target relative-value trades...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

The US Dollar View and Its Implications for EM Currencies

Although the dollar should remain strong in the near term at least until we get clarity on the Fed path, it should depreciate for the remainder of...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Dollar Top Leading a Yield Peak

DXY call for a top near 97.50-98 is unfolding. A re test to set up an opportunity to short the USD as yields push into a near term topping zone.

Thomas Schroeder

Value of Euro as a Hedge for EM Currencies in Times Like These

Given my expectation that the dollar should remain volatile in the near term, I continue to recommend maintaining a euro hedge for a diversified...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)