Author: Lior Alkalay

China Devalues The Yuan: Now What?

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


It was less than a week ago that we pinned down the growing possibility that China would move to devalue the Yuan. Then – Bang! Since this morning, it's a done deal. Or is it? While China's move to devalue the Yuan (by roughly 1.9%) in a single day is the most aggressive Yuan devaluation since the "roaring" nineties, chances are this is only the beginning.

China Must Regain its Competitiveness

The core of the matter here is that China is trying to maintain the facade that this was a one-shot deal. However, it really has more to do with the government's attempt to free the Yuan rate. Beijing, it seems, may have finally bowed to the realities of market economics. Even as it enacts reforms to liberalize its financial markets and change its economic model, China must regain its competitiveness when it comes to exports. Continue reading "China Devalues The Yuan: Now What?" →

Dollar's Fate To Be Decided In Beijing?

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Last week's GDP growth figures proved that US economic performance is still pretty mediocre, bordering on mildly tepid. While the Hawks were eyeing a 2.6% growth figure, actual GDP fell short of expectations and posted a rather dismal growth rate of 2.3% annualized.

Yesterday, we got the Fed's favorite inflation indicator, Core PCE, the inflation barometer that's extracted from the GDP release. And what we got was a dismal 1.3% inflation rate (YoY). This validated, once again, that the US economy failed to reach escape velocity that would necessitate several rate hikes a year. Rather, it suggested that anything beyond one or two rate hikes was unnecessary. Hardly a hawkish sign, yet Dollar demand keeps on rising while US yields move lower. It is this very combination that suggests that Dollar demand is being stirred by the demand of US Treasuries. Some say that this is investors moving into safety amid the rout in Chinese markets. Well, that's probably true, at least, in part. But the rest? There's a big bet on what China will do next. Continue reading "Dollar's Fate To Be Decided In Beijing?" →

Indian Rupee: In It For The Long Haul?

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Over the past few months, the focus in the FX space alternated between a likely Fed rate hike to a possible Grexit to the woes in China. Justifiably, all of those matters will undoubtedly shape the dynamics and future trends of FX. But while the FX market has been busy focusing on the major currencies, opportunities might be passing by.

It may be that FX investors are missing some long-term value trends that could be rewarding if one exercises patience. One of those trends is the Indian Rupee. The Rupee's been hidden from center stage but is gradually being positioned into a long-term bullish trend. Now while that does pose some risk, it could become worthwhile for those willing to engage. So why now is the Indian Rupee on the verge of becoming interesting? Continue reading "Indian Rupee: In It For The Long Haul?" →

How Many Rate Hikes Can The U.S. Handle?

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


The FOMC meeting ended yesterday as many had expected. Besides some marginal tweaks in the language, the message remained the same; data will determine our rate policy. Now, hours after the latest US GDP figures hit the newswires, it seems that Dollar Bulls are gearing up towards a September rate hike. Part of their rationale is because the data is good enough to sustain a rate hike. And that’s essentially true. With wages growing annually at 2%, Core Inflation at 1.7%, unemployment at 1.8% and now GDP bouncing back, indeed, a rate hike is warranted. At the same time, there are essentially no signs that the US economy is overheating. Rather, we’re seeing notable signs of stabilization. This, then, begs the question: How many rate hikes can the US handle in the upcoming year?

No Escape Velocity in GDP

When we examine the dynamics of GDP growth, it’s evident that the US GDP growth rate is not breaking the range. Instead, it has the same cycles that tend to end around the 3% growth rate. After that, the US economy tends to decelerate, only to regain momentum later. But this range of growth has not been broken. This means that there’s no evidence that US GDP is at escape velocity, a pace which would require several rate hikes a year.

United States GDP Annual Growth Rate
Chart courtesy of Tradingeconomics.com

No Escape Velocity in Inflation

When we examine US Core Inflation, a similar picture emerges. US inflation is within the Fed’s 2% range and is showing no signs of overheating, i.e. escaping the Fed’s target. Rather, every time it reaches the 2% range, it tends to cool and then slide slightly lower. Continue reading "How Many Rate Hikes Can The U.S. Handle?" →

Hedge Your Dollars With Pounds?

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Which currency is set to outperform? Is it the US Dollar or the Pound Sterling? Consider if you will that, despite some notable headwinds, the Fed is moving closer to a rate hike. For many, that suggests the Dollar as the best bet for the next 12 months. Especially with unemployment at 5.3% and core CPI now rebounding to 1.8% Year on Year. Yet some US data releases are still only "mildly" positive; for example gains in wages, slowed from 2.3% to just 2%.

On the other side of the Atlantic the Bank of England has signaled that it's warming up towards a rate hike, too. Yet, unlike in the US, gains in wages have been rising by 3.2% Year on Year. Moreover, GDP has been growing at a pace of 0.4% (QoQ) in Q1, far better than the negative figure posted by the US. So is the Sterling looking better than the Dollar? Not exactly. Then is the Dollar looking better than Sterling? The answer is, once again, not exactly. But here's the thing. Continue reading "Hedge Your Dollars With Pounds?" →