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FORTNIGHTLY OUTLOOK FOR CURRENCIES<br />

IInves<strong>to</strong>rs continued <strong>to</strong> shelter<br />

themselves in safe havens like<br />

the US dollar and US treasuries<br />

in the wake of persistent<br />

global growth concerns and the<br />

European debt crisis. The US dollar<br />

index, a broad <strong>me</strong>asure of the dollar’s<br />

performance against six major currencies,<br />

rallied <strong>to</strong> 79.75 from 77.<br />

The IMF forecasted the world economies<br />

will grow at a much slower pace<br />

for another one-and-a-half year.<br />

Moreover, no concrete words ca<strong>me</strong><br />

from the European Union, causing<br />

more pain <strong>to</strong> risky assets.<br />

Macro-economic indica<strong>to</strong>rs are showing<br />

weakness around the globe. PMI<br />

numbers of developed markets are<br />

indicating slower growth in all the<br />

industries. Unemploy<strong>me</strong>nt rates in the<br />

US and Europe are high at around<br />

9.1% and 10%, respectively. The<br />

housing sec<strong>to</strong>r weakness continued in<br />

the US and UK leading <strong>to</strong> poor<br />

consu<strong>me</strong>r spending. Also, inter-bank<br />

lending rates continue <strong>to</strong> reflect lack<br />

of confidence in the money markets.<br />

All concerns, coupled with the<br />

ongoing dollar squeeze make the<br />

dollar a good bet. The dollar index is<br />

likely <strong>to</strong> test the mark of 81 in the<br />

coming fortnight.<br />

The euro made a nine-month low<br />

against the US dollar, the worst hit<br />

among all the major currencies. The<br />

single currency is under im<strong>me</strong>nse<br />

pressure on account of contagion<br />

fears in the European economies.<br />

Inves<strong>to</strong>rs went short on every rally on<br />

the euro, which led <strong>to</strong> a sharp fall<br />

from $1.38 <strong>to</strong> $1.3160 within two<br />

weeks. Though the German parlia<strong>me</strong>nt<br />

passed the enhanced EFSF<br />

(European Financial Stability<br />

Facility) with a vast majority, the<br />

inves<strong>to</strong>rs remained sceptical about the<br />

long-term solutions for European<br />

peripheral countries.<br />

Higher CPI numbers <strong>to</strong>o did not<br />

support the currency and expectations<br />

of a rate cut was largely ruled out. The<br />

coming fortnight is very crucial for<br />

the Euro zone as the markets await the<br />

final con<strong>to</strong>urs of an enhanced EFSF.<br />

On the other hand, troika (IMF, EU<br />

and ECB) will decide upon the next<br />

tranche of aid <strong>to</strong> Greece.<br />

Currently, inves<strong>to</strong>rs are very sceptical<br />

about the Euro zone and with every<br />

disappoint<strong>me</strong>nt, inves<strong>to</strong>rs are going<br />

short on the EUR/USD pair. With a<br />

bearish outlook on the pair, we expect<br />

the EUR/USD pair <strong>to</strong> trade in the<br />

range of $1.2850 <strong>to</strong> $1.3350.<br />

The sterling was broadly under<br />

pressure in line with the euro. It fell <strong>to</strong><br />

$1.54 from $1.57 against the US<br />

dollar in the last fortnight. Rising<br />

expectations of additional quantitative<br />

easing weighed on the exchange<br />

rate as the Bank of England showed<br />

willingness <strong>to</strong> expand its monetary<br />

policy further.<br />

The central bank looks set <strong>to</strong> increase<br />

its efforts <strong>to</strong> stimulate the ailing<br />

economy in order <strong>to</strong> avoid falling<br />

back in<strong>to</strong> a recession. Going forward,<br />

we may see a sustained downward<br />

pressure on GBP/USD against the<br />

backdrop of broad strength in the US<br />

dollar, coupled with deteriorating<br />

outlook for the UK economy.<br />

The funda<strong>me</strong>ntals are weak for UK<br />

and any rally should be considered as<br />

a selling opportunity. The likely range<br />

for the pound for the fortnight is<br />

$1.55 <strong>to</strong> $1.52 with a downside bias.<br />

The Japanese yen broke the usual<br />

appreciation trend <strong>to</strong>wards the end of<br />

the fortnight. The US GDP ca<strong>me</strong> in<br />

better-than-expected at 1.3% for the<br />

June quarter. This develop<strong>me</strong>nt gave<br />

the US dollar so<strong>me</strong> positive ground<br />

against the Japanese yen and the<br />

JPYINR pair surged <strong>to</strong> 77.25.<br />

However, quarter-end exporters’<br />

dollar selling ca<strong>me</strong> in at these levels.<br />

On the economy front, the newest<br />

Tankan economic survey for major<br />

Japanese industries in Q3 showed<br />

welco<strong>me</strong> improve<strong>me</strong>nt in the manufacturing<br />

sec<strong>to</strong>rs. In the coming<br />

fortnight, we expect the Japanese yen<br />

<strong>to</strong> be in the range of 76 <strong>to</strong> 78.<br />

The Indian rupee remained under<br />

tre<strong>me</strong>ndous pressure, depreciating by<br />

almost 8% <strong>to</strong> 10% in the last month.<br />

Capital outflows, coupled with the<br />

dollar squeeze in the Asian markets<br />

led <strong>to</strong> a sharp decline in the rupee.<br />

The RBI reiterated that it won’t<br />

intervene <strong>to</strong> protect any particular<br />

level. However, it will intervene in<br />

the Forex market only <strong>to</strong> control the<br />

intraday volatility of the rupee.<br />

According <strong>to</strong> data from SEBI, FII<br />

outflows since 20th September is<br />

$1,706 million from equity and debt<br />

markets. The weakness in rupee is<br />

likely <strong>to</strong> continue in the coming<br />

fortnight as the run on the US dollar<br />

may lead <strong>to</strong> further weakness in<br />

overall Asian currencies.<br />

On the economic front, the current<br />

account deficit for June quarter ca<strong>me</strong><br />

in at $14 billion against $12 billion in<br />

the corresponding period last year.<br />

Additionally, fiscal numbers point <strong>to</strong><br />

a higher-than-estimated fiscal deficit<br />

for the current financial year. Both the<br />

external and internal fac<strong>to</strong>rs indicate a<br />

weaker rupee in the short-term. The<br />

USDINR pair may test the levels of<br />

49.90-50.00 in spoT.<br />

Beyond Market 10th Oct ’11 It’s simplified... 33

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