Head of FX Strategy
Summary: Carry trading conditions remain about as supportive as we have ever seen them, but a firm USD after the FOMC meeting, as well as ongoing USD liquidity concerns, don't fit very well here for going long EM carry trades here. As well the US-China trade negotiations may not produce much next month, judging from recent signals from the two sides
Emerging market carry trades performed poorly over the last week, even as general risk conditions have remained quite supportive. But the news stream of the last week has proven fairly negative for EM FX on a zany roller coaster ride in global oil markets in the wake of the attacks on key Saudi production facilities, an FOMC meeting that proved less dovish than expected and supported the US dollar, and even unwelcome developments on the US-China trade talk front, as Trump expressed a lack of interest in any "partial deal" shortly after the Chinese delegation announced a cancellation of plans to visit Montana and Nebraska next month. Still, the remarkable thing here, as noted in our global risk indicator chart below, is that risk sentiment remains extremely elevated, with no signs of strain despite the above.
Chart: Saxo Bank Global Risk Indicator
Our global risk indicator remains solidly in the green, though the recent spike in improvement has backtracked slightly. From these levels, risk for carry trades can come from any direction: namely, further strength in the US dollar if the market feels that the Fed is behind the curve in cutting rates and/or is not yet on top of USD funding pressure, confidence in the global growth outlook worsens, and finally, if the US-China trade negotiations lead nowhere next month.
Carry Trade Short Term Performance
This week we pop in a 1-week and 1-month performance chart for some perspective on how poor the most recent week has been relative to the prior month for many EM currencies. Note the pronounced weakness in South American currencies, led by Brazil and Chile, where both central banks slashed rates recently, Brazil by 50 basis points last week to the lowest ever at 5.50% and Chile also cutting by 50 basis points to 2.00% - a rate that looks very low relative to Chile's vulnerability via its external debt load and its economy's dependence on copper exports.
AI: The good, the bad, and the bubble
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Steen Jakobsen,
Chief Investment Officer
The emergence of advanced AI systems is by far the most surprising event this year, turning everything upside down, while risks and benefits are debated. AI will also become an arms race between the US and China.
Peter Garnry,
Head of Equity Strategy
As China navigates global fragmentation, its cycle of technology application, productivity enhancement, and growth is threatened by US breakthroughs in generative AI, limited computing power, and geopolitical tensions.
Redmond Wong,
Market Strategist
Japan’s expertise in semiconductors and robotic integration could be the foundation of AI dominance. Combining two of this year's themes, Japanese equities and artificial intelligence, brings a wave of opportunities.
Charu Chanana,
Market Strategist
The AI fever has turned the technology into a darling, pushing crypto further into no-man’s-land. There are striking similarities between AI and crypto, and if these are to come full circle, AI won't be spared for bubbles.
Mads Eberhardt,
Cryptocurrency Analyst
Stocks related to artificial intelligence (AI) have appeared on investors' radars. Expectations are high, but it may be necessary to consider how to get exposure to AI in a diversified way.
Hans Oudshoorn,
Trainer Academy
The USD is on its back foot as markets celebrate an eventual Fed rate peak and steady long US yields. The stakes are even higher for the Japanese yen if longer major sovereign yield curves have to price in economic acceleration.
John J. Hardy,
Head of FX Strategy
While commodities, broadly speaking, have faced some tough months, a partial reversal during June could signal that the asset class is getting back on its feet with energy holding up and precious metals with upside potential.
Ole S. Hansen,
Head of Commodity Strategy
As inflation remains high central banks face hard decisions about whether they should keep hiking interest rates or stop. Meanwhile, the rise of AI creates bubble-like conditions that only make the decision harder.
Althea Spinozzi,
Senior Fixed Income Strategist
