Founder

Olivier Desbarres

Exacting. Excellent. Exceeding. Exemplary.

4X Global Research

4X Global Research was founded in 2017 to provide institutional and corporate clients with the substantive research, high-quality analysis and thoughtful insight on Emerging and G20 economies and financial markets they need to make informed and timely decisions and gain an edge in their investments.

FX & Rates

The past week has seen a short-lived flurry of market price action, with daily volatility in the US Dollar and equities edging higher on 30th April and again on 4th May. However, volatility overall has remained subdued, particularly in the benchmark US 10-year Treasury yield. Moreover, the Dollar NEER and US 10-year yields – increasingly a bellwether for financial markets – remain firmly within their multi-week ranges while the S&amp;P 500 yesterday closed in the middle of a narrow 3-week range of just 1.8%. US markets are seemingly sitting on the fence at this juncture, unwilling to take material directional positions given the uncertain outlook for US and global inflation and central banks’ reaction functions.  However, the gradual 6bp fall in the US benchmark 10-year Treasury yield between 29th April and 5th May to about 1.58% and the flattening of the 2s5s and 2s10s yield curves alongside a 0.4% gain in the Dollar NEER is noteworthy.Our take is that markets may have become marginally less worried that the Fed will have no choice but to tighten monetary policy sooner than it has indicated despite expectations that year-on-year US CPI-inflation will rise further in coming months. Moreover, the inverse relationship between the “safe-haven” Dollar and riskier assets has remained strong. US macro data released in the past week have been strong enough to put a floor under the S&amp;P 500 but not strong enough to push it to new highs. Finally we think that markets, in particular real-money funds, have once again been paying greater attention to valuations, including the relative cheapness of the Dollar.Notably most of the other major NEERs have also traded in narrow ranges since early March and few have moved much in the past month. Central banks, particularly in Asia, have been willing and able to keep their currencies on a short leash in order to maintain export competitiveness and minimise inflationary or deflationary pressures.Within Asia, the Taiwan Dollar is looking expensive relative to the Korean Won, in our view.

The past week has seen a short-lived flurry of market price action, with daily volatility in the US Dollar and equities edging higher on 30th April and again on 4th May. However, volatility overall has remained subdued, particularly in the benchmark US 10-year Treasury yield. Moreover, the Dollar NEER and US 10-year yields – increasingly a bellwether for financial markets – remain firmly within their multi-week ranges while the S&amp;P 500 yesterday closed in the middle of a narrow 3-week range of just 1.8%. US markets are seemingly sitting on the fence at this juncture, unwilling to take material directional positions given the uncertain outlook for US and global inflation and central banks’ reaction functions.  However, the gradual 6bp fall in the US benchmark 10-year Treasury yield between 29th April and 5th May to about 1.58% and the flattening of the 2s5s and 2s10s yield curves alongside a 0.4% gain in the Dollar NEER is noteworthy.Our take is that markets may have become marginally less worried that the Fed will have no choice but to tighten monetary policy sooner than it has indicated despite expectations that year-on-year US CPI-inflation will rise further in coming months. Moreover, the inverse relationship between the “safe-haven” Dollar and riskier assets has remained strong. US macro data released in the past week have been strong enough to put a floor under the S&amp;P 500 but not strong enough to push it to new highs. Finally we think that markets, in particular real-money funds, have once again been paying greater attention to valuations, including the relative cheapness of the Dollar.Notably most of the other major NEERs have also traded in narrow ranges since early March and few have moved much in the past month. Central banks, particularly in Asia, have been willing and able to keep their currencies on a short leash in order to maintain export competitiveness and minimise inflationary or deflationary pressures.Within Asia, the Taiwan Dollar is looking expensive relative to the Korean Won, in our view.

Sitting on Range-Trade Fence: Complacent Comfort

Fixed Income and Currency Strategist

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

In this note, we highlight the widening performance gap between commodities and EM currencies along with going over the reasons behind it and the timing when it can start reversing.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 the broad market.

In this note, we highlight the widening performance gap between commodities and EM currencies along with going over the reasons behind it and the timing when it can start reversing.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 the broad market.

FX Dashboard: Divergence Between Commodities and EM Currencies Grows

In this note, we discuss the rise in volatility for Latin American currencies especially relative to their carry. The low carry relative to the volatility puts the accommodative monetary policies in Peru and Colombia at risk in our view.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of EM currency market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market.

In this note, we discuss the rise in volatility for Latin American currencies especially relative to their carry. The low carry relative to the volatility puts the accommodative monetary policies in Peru and Colombia at risk in our view.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of EM currency market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market.

FX Dashboard: High Volatility Relative to Carry Weighing on LatAm Currencies

In this note, we discuss the underperformance of the Colombian peso due to fiscal concerns potentially leading to a risk of credit rating downgrades. It may become a buying opportunity once one of the rating agencies downgrades the country.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of EM currency market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market.

In this note, we discuss the underperformance of the Colombian peso due to fiscal concerns potentially leading to a risk of credit rating downgrades. It may become a buying opportunity once one of the rating agencies downgrades the country.Separately, the attached file is a snapshot of EM currency market, which we produce daily, and where 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 the broad market.

FX Dashboard: Monitor Colombian Peso for an Entry Point

This is the third edition of our monthly trade ideas recap note in which we list our current trade recommendations and discuss whether any need to be closed. We have made a total of 12 trade recommendations so far, of which 8 are in the money.

This is the third edition of our monthly trade ideas recap note in which we list our current trade recommendations and discuss whether any need to be closed. We have made a total of 12 trade recommendations so far, of which 8 are in the money.

Alpha Bites: Monthly Trade Ideas Recap (May 2021)

South Africa

The South African rand is the official currency of The Republic of South Africa.

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Sitting on Range-Trade Fence: Complacent Comfort

Vol & directionality in Dollar, Treasuries and S&P 500 modest in past week and most EM currencies remain rangebound. Markets sitting on fence, but...

Olivier Desbarres

FX Dashboard: Divergence Between Commodities and EM Currencies Grows

In this note, we highlight the widening performance gap between commodities and EM currencies along with going over the reasons behind it and the...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: High Volatility Relative to Carry Weighing on LatAm Currencies

The volatility of LatAm currencies has risen especially relative to their carry. The low carry relative to the volatility puts the accommodative...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

FX Dashboard: Monitor Colombian Peso for an Entry Point

We discuss the underperformance of the Colombian peso due to the risk of credit rating downgrades. It may become a buying opportunity once one of...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

Alpha Bites: Monthly Trade Ideas Recap (May 2021)

In our monthly trade ideas recap note, we list our current recommendations and discuss whether any need to be closed. We have made a total of 12...

Gautam Jain, PhD, CFA

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