Twitter
Advertisement

EMERGING MARKETS-Dollar retreat buoys emerging currencies to multi-month highs

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Emerging equities were pressured on Monday by growing concern for so-called Trumpflation trades, although the dollar's retreat to four-month lows allowed currencies such as the rand and rupee to scale multi-month highs.

MSCI's emerging equities flatlined, standing about 1.2 percent off recent two-year highs, as U.S. President Donald Trump's failure to get support from his own party over repealing Obamacare raised doubts about his ability to implement tax cut pledges which have been dubbed Trumpflation.

Sovereign dollar bond yield spreads over Treasuries widened 4 basis points to a one-week high.

But emerging markets received support from the 0.5 percent fall in the U.S. dollar index and lower Treasury yields, while buoyant profits at Chinese manufacturers also offered reassurance on the health of the world's second largest economy.

"To some extent there is concern about the reflation trade but actually the pause in reflation had started a few weeks ago," UBS strategist Manik Narain said, pointing to a recent retreat in cyclical shares as an example.

"A lot now comes down to China and if they can take over the leadership of the global reflation trade."

He said that continued signs of disinflation were making for "a sweet spot for emerging local currency debt" and would likely ensure continued inflows to the sector.

The rand firmed more than 0.5 percent to new 20-month highs against the dollar while benchmark bond yields slipped to the lowest since October 2015. The currency also received support from firmer gold prices, robust economic data at home and from China, its main export market.

The central bank should keep interest rates steady this Thursday, though bond markets which are pricing a 25 bps cut by end-2017, will likely focus on the tone of the post-meeting statement Goldman Sachs analysts told clients.

"The more benign inflation outlook and recent strengthening of the rand are likely to cause the MPC to soften its tone at its meeting this week...our benign outlook for inflation and dovish rate forecast are likely to continue to support.. the long end of the yield curve," they added.

Russian 10-year yields touched one-week highs after the central bank accompanied a 25 bps rate cut on Friday with some hawkish signals. A dip in oil prices pulled the rouble off five-week highs.

Earlier in the day, the Taiwan dollar surged to a 2-/2-year high while the Indian rupee, South Korean won and Thai baht hit multi-month highs

South Korean stocks however were hit by worries over a diplomatic standoff with China, with Hyundai Motor shares down 1.2 percent after it said production was suspended at one of its Chinese factories for a week.

For GRAPHIC on emerging market FX performance 2017, see http://tmsnrt.rs/2e7eoml For GRAPHIC on MSCI emerging index performance 2017, see http://tmsnrt.rs/2dZbdP5

For CENTRAL EUROPE market report, see

For TURKISH market report, see

For RUSSIAN market report, see) Emerging Markets Prices from Reuters Equities Latest Net Chg % Chg % Chg

on year

Morgan Stanley Emrg Mkt Indx 968.24 -0.89 -0.09 +12.29

Czech Rep 979.30 -3.23 -0.33 +6.26

Poland 2206.19 -28.63 -1.28 +13.26

Hungary 31983.51 -113.58 -0.35 -0.06

Romania 7966.11 -14.90 -0.19 +12.44

Greece 644.44 +8.78 +1.38 +0.12

Russia 1112.22 -12.44 -1.11 -3.48

South Africa 44244.57 -418.03 -0.94 +0.78

Turkey 90072.24 -310.47 -0.34 +15.27

China 3266.82 -2.62 -0.08 +5.26

India 29225.26 -196.14 -0.67 +9.76

Currencies Latest Prev Local Local

close currency currency

% change % change

in 2017

Czech Rep 27.02 27.02 -0.00 -0.04

Poland 4.26 4.26 -0.02 +3.34

Hungary 309.81 310.07 +0.08 -0.32

Romania 4.55 4.55 -0.01 -0.31

Serbia 123.87 123.85 -0.02 -0.42

Russia 56.81 56.94 +0.23 +7.83

Kazakhstan 315.86 316.96 +0.35 +5.63

Ukraine 27.14 27.10 -0.15 -0.52

South Africa 12.35 12.42 +0.61 +11.19

Kenya 102.72 102.80 +0.08 -0.34

Israel 3.62 3.63 +0.39 +6.48

Turkey 3.60 3.61 +0.33 -1.98

China 6.88 6.88 +0.07 +0.98

India 65.08 65.40 +0.49 +4.40

Brazil 3.11 3.11 -0.01 +4.69

Mexico 18.78 18.75 -0.17 +10.29

Debt Index Strip Spd Chg %Rtn Index

Sov'gn Debt EMBIG 331 3 .07 7 69.31 1

All data taken from Reuters at 08:41 GMT. Currency percent change calculated from the daily U.S.

close.

 

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
    Advertisement

    Live tv

    Advertisement
    Advertisement