ZAR: USDZAR Falls to Near 3-Year Low, JP Morgan Remain OW ZAR
Dec-05 12:15
- In similar vein to the Mexican peso and other emerging market currencies, broad-based dollar weakness sees USDZAR fall to a new cycle low – with spot currently below the bear trigger at 16.9512, the Nov 12 low, at its lowest level since January 2023.
- The pair closed below 17.00 yesterday, and the break of this psychological level will bolster bearish conditions, setting sights initially on 16.8280, the 1.00 projection of the Sep 4 - Oct 9 - Nov 5 price swing, ahead of the 2023 low at 16.6950.
- JP Morgan remain overweight ZAR and hold near-maturity USDZAR puts, citing cheap valuations, still attractive carry and a supportive external environment. In ING’s 2026 FX outlook, they presented a USDZAR target of 16.50 for later next year.
- It is worth noting that Moody’s is scheduled to review South Africa’s sovereign credit rating after market close today (current rating: Ba2; outlook: stable). Given the stable outlook, no tweak is expected. However, the nation’s improved fiscal trajectory underpinned an upgrade from S&P last month, and Moody’s commentary may add to the increasingly positive mood around South Africa’s fiscal situation on the back of an upbeat MTBPS.
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ECB: One-year ETS2 Delay Prompts Steepening In 2s3s EUR Inflation Curve
Nov-05 12:11
EU member states have agreed to delay ETS2 - the new carbon market pricing scheme - by one year to 2028. The ECB had estimated that this scheme would push up 2027 inflation by ~0.3pp in its September macroeconomic projections. As such, the delay should imply a mechanical reduction of the 2027 inflation projection December, compensated almost one-for-one with an increase in the 2028 projection (which will be presented for the first time next month).
- Following the news, the 2s3s EUR inflation curve has steepened almost 5bps to 1.6bps. However, it’s notable to us that this has solely been driven by the 3-year swap (1.84% vs 1.79% yesterday), with the 2-year swap little changed at 1.83%. This may leave scope for further near-term steepening in 2s3s.
- Recent policymaker signalling suggests the ECB will avoid making monetary policy decisions (i.e. delivering another cut) solely on the basis of an ETS2-implied undershoot in 2027/2028.
- In an interview released yesterday (i.e. before the ETS2 announcement), Bank of Greece Governor Stournaras told MNI that while the 2028 projections will be a “key input” for the ECB, other data and “judgement” will play an important role. He suggested that he would be more concerned if spot inflation rates fall below target (Flash October headline was 2.1% Y/Y, core was 2.4%).
- Other relevant comments over the last few weeks:
- Kazaks (31 Oct) "The 2028 forecast will be very important to look at, to see where inflation dynamics are going, but I would not overestimate the importance,"...."Uncertainty remains high and is unlikely to disappear, so forecasts will come with a very large margin of error"
- Kocher (31 Oct): “The 2028 projection is of course a projection that is far out into the future,” ....“So putting too much weight on this projection, on this single data point, I think would not be appropriate.”
MNI: US MBA: MARKET COMPOSITE -1.9% SA THRU OCT 31 WK
Nov-05 12:00
- MNI: US MBA: MARKET COMPOSITE -1.9% SA THRU OCT 31 WK
EGBS: OATs The Risk Proxy Of Choice, Limiting Recovery In SPGB/OAT/PGB Fly
Nov-05 11:58
The SPGB/OAT/PGB butterfly is off all-time lows, but the bounce has been limited and has already started to fade as weakness in equity markets weighs on OATs in RV terms.
- OATs have become more of a risk proxy given France’s ongoing fiscal deterioration and political risk premium.
- This contrasts with the positive fiscal dynamics and sovereign rating trajectories for Spain and Portugal, and the clear differentiation continues to hamper French paper on this structure.
- Ongoing French political risks and prolonged Budget uncertainty only deepen downside risks for OATs here, particularly with no clear outcome in sight at this stage.
- Note that the latest local media reports point to French PM Lecornu being set to offer concessions to the Socialist Party in order to advance the social security budget (covered by our political risk team recently), although it is uncertain whether the offer will actually be tabled/accepted.
Fig. 1: 10-Year Spain/France Portugal Butterfly
Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P.
