Emerging currencies slide on higher oil, strong dollar

Emerging market stocks and currencies fell on Monday, pressured by a strong dollar and rising oil prices with net crude importers bearing the brunt.

The MSCI index of emerging market currencies fell 0.3% as the dollar built on last week’s gains and hit a 16-month high, while oil prices rose by more than 1% on Monday as top exporter Saudi Arabia announced a December supply cut.

This hit currencies of net oil importers such as the Indian rupee and the Turkish lira.

“The recent rebound in oil prices is a reminder that it will become increasingly difficult for twin deficit currencies – rupee, rupiah and peso – to smooth currency volatility via rate hikes without hurting the economy, and through interventions without depleting reserves,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia Pacific trading at Oanda.

But, the bounce in oil prices lifted the currency and stocks in Russia – a net exporter of oil – with the rouble up 0.6% and the Moscow stock exchange index climbed by 0.5% aided also by a delay to the imposition of US sanction on aluminium giant Rusal.

“Oil is improving sentiment for the rouble today but there is also another driver for the rouble – Rusal sanctions. Some deadlines were extended by US authorities. And we are not seeing any other negative news related to sanctions,” said Vladimir Miklashevsky, a senior economist at Danske Bank.

The Sri Lankan rupee weakened after dollar-bonds fell as President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved parliament on Friday night and called an election for January 5 in a move that will likely deepen the country’s political crisis.

The Chinese yuan extended losses, after its worst week since July as soft economic data last week showed cooling of the economy, while SouthAfrica‘s rand was weaker by 0.3% as yield-seeking investors continued to back the dollar.

MSCI’s benchmark emerging equity index was down 0.6%, trading at its lowest level this month as exchanges in South Korea, India andSouth Africa declined.

China mainland stocks , however, shined through, snapping a one-week losing streak boosted by a series of stimulus measures, notably the securities regulator making it easier for companies to buy back shares, possible implementation of large scale tax cuts.

Focus also remains on US Vice-President Mike Pence’s attendance at the Association of South East Asian Nations summit this week, which could see him provide clarity on US intentions for improving trade relations with China.

“Trade is always going to be a concern in the current environment for Asia, as about one third of all global trade goes through the region, and it is slowing, which means slower incomes growth across the region,” said Robert Carnell, chief economist and head of research at ING Asia.

In Eastern Europe, Romania’s leu touched its lowest since May last year as consumer price inflation slowed in October.

Source: moneyweb.co.za