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Note: Low and High figures are for the trading day.
Note: Low and High figures are for the trading day.
Note: Low and High figures are for the trading day.
Note: Low and High figures are for the trading day.
Note: Low and High figures are for the trading day.
Note: Low and High figures are for the trading day.
The haven-linked US Dollar underperformed against most ASEAN currencies this past week, weakening against the Singapore Dollar, Indonesian Rupiah and Philippine Peso. This is as sentiment improved in developing economies as the MSCI Emerging Markets Index gained 0.52%. A notable standout was the Thai Baht, which weakened against USD. Rising Covid cases in Thailand likely unnerved investors, sending the local benchmark stock index lower.
*ASEAN-Based US Dollar Index averages USD/SGD, USD/IDR, USD/THB and USD/PHP
ASEAN currencies can be quite sensitive to the direction of capital flows, which are heavily influenced by borrowing costs in the world’s largest economy. Recent gains in SGD, IDR and PHP have occurred amidst falling longer-term Treasury yields. If this trend continues, alleviating foreign debt repayment woes, then ASEAN FX may continue gaining. A weaker US Dollar may further amplify this dynamic.
The Federal Reserve is in focus this week, with April’s monetary policy on tap Wednesday. The central bank has been reiterating its accommodative stance and downplaying rising inflation expectations. Chair Jerome Powell has been saying that the central bank views near-term price pressures as a transitory effect. If similar language is repeated ahead, then bond rates may continue weakening.
This may be amplified by rising expectations of US corporate and capital gains tax hikes. Last week, President Joe Biden unveiled a near-doubling of the latter for those who make over US$1 million as part of the ‘American Families Plan’. Further details are expected to be released this week. Such policy prescriptions may alleviate pressure off the Fed to unwind its lose policy, thus favoring ASEAN currencies.
With that in mind, keep an eye out for how the central bank may approach policy given the fiscal background. US first-quarter GDP and PCE data are on tap. But, higher-than-expected prints may not necessarily drive Treasury rates higher if the central bank is not anticipated to act on policy in the near term. Earnings season is also in full swing, with key companies like Alphabet, Facebook and Tesla reporting.
The ASEAN and South Asia economic calendar docket is fairly quiet in the week ahead. On Monday, Singapore will release industrial production. Output is expected to increase 2.3% y/y in March, much weaker than the 16.4% prior outcome. Given the city-state’s dependence on the external sector, the data could offer further insight into the state of global growth. Chinese manufacturing PMI is then due on Friday. The nation is a key trading partner for ASEAN countries. Thus, improving data from the world’s second-largest economy could spill over, given that it is essentially an economic engine for ASEAN.
Check out the DailyFX Economic Calendar for ASEAN and global data updates!
On April 23rd, the 20-day rolling correlation coefficient between my ASEAN-based US Dollar index and the MSCI Emerging Markets index changed to -0.64 from -0.70 one week ago. Values closer to –1 indicate an increasingly inverse relationship, though it is important to recognize that correlation does not imply causation.
Chart Created Using TradingView
*ASEAN-Based US Dollar Index averages USD/SGD, USD/IDR, USD/THB and USD/PHP
— Written by Daniel Dubrovsky, Strategist for DailyFX.com
To contact Daniel, use the comments section below or @ddubrovskyFX on Twitter
DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.
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