12 January 2016
12 January 2016
FX Blueprint: Forever Young
Theme #9: Asian provocateur Buy USD vs TVVD, KRW and THB
Investors should diversity their focus from external
vulnerabilities in EM (current account deficits, reserves,
foreign ownership) to include internal vulnerabilities
(output gaps, domestic indebtedness). As the fed hikes,
rate differentials will narrow more in internally
vulnerable EM markets. THB, 7WD, KRW & CNY stand
out as the shorts to capture this theme in Asia.
For global FX investors, Asia has arguably been a place
to hide in recent years. On average, current account
positions in Asia are healthier; the beta to the USD has
been significantly lower; and FX volatility much lesser
than other regions (Chart 1. top half). Admittedly, there
is large infra-Asian heterogeneity, with the likes of
Malaysia and Indonesia hardly subscribing to these
favorable characteristics. But on average, Asian
currencies can be said to have been less externally
vu€nerable than her EM and even G10 peers.
However, when shifting focus to internal vulnerabilities
- such as output gaps. domestic' indebtedness, and
demographks ;hit .)rctiire ni; knnocl !,;(4H, ,i;
for Asia. The slowdown in growth in Asia, measured by
the 10 year z-score of 2016 growth forecasts, is second
worst to Latin America. Importantly though, unlike
Latam, where central banks are still expected to hike
rates along with the Fed this year, Asian central banks
remain biased to ease further (Chart 1, bottom half).
Asia is the only region where policy rates on average
will be coming down. This will be led by cuts in China,
Indonesia, and India, but with the risk that other
economies performing below potential also feel
compelled to ease Interestingly, the performance of
average Asian HEEHs has tracked the growth
'advantage' of Asia over developed markets very tightly
in the past (Chart 2). The recent correction in Asian
REERs is consistent with a 'catch-down' to the
narrower gap between Asian and DM growth, as Asia
has slowed and developed markets picked up some
pace. But, the Asian FX adjustment appears incomplete,
with room for more weakness before the slower
growth reality is fully priced in.
In EM crises. thc, c),t t. fermi
vulnerabilitie‘t;: current account deficits, foreign
ownership of domestic securities, USD denominated
external debt, commodity exposure. and reserves
coverage, amongst others. Indeed, these have been the
differentiating metrics for EM FX for the past few years.
In Asia. the two currencies which show up on the rear
end of these metrics are Indonesia and Malaysia.
Reserves coverage for short-term external debt is the
poorest (Chart 3), foreign ownership of local currency
government bonds the highest at 39% and 47%
respectively, and current accounts are most exposed to
lower energy prices. These vulnerabilities will keep IDR
and MYR most liable to weaken during times of risk !External vs. internal vulnerabilities: Asia scores highly
ion the former, but increasingly poorly on the latter
yam I a USO TVI:t
Axon GDh 000
420
400
ci IMMW **** 40)
460
.1.00 I I Ate 010 &WA ulam As* tam RCA 010
040 tee 2-scraeot3:553 GOPGtoton
020
a
020 2o
040 to
003 o
020 All Il. I
to
403 fctactai !tato Ch.v.po 2016 opal
-20
GiO °AEA Al. Later, Lawn BACA G10 be
Na We coAla It amps escitaptft Twofers co ant exam grant. NW
wester te axateltenso co I a ION Sant Dana* gat Ilaanteg taws LI! WC
Asia
9.
8
6
5
3
2
of
01 02 hdjusting to slower growth reality - more to go
—Asia I'M Growth Geo le Average)
- R:En AS); I el. YoY %
03 04 05 06 07 06 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
Savor 0•40cher far* CPC St Aker AmPoir• 7%
IMYR and IDR are still at the rear end on almost all
!external vulnerability metrics
5
3
2
0 pti Resersiscomforshortainsexismeldebt
KRW CIt. ma
Soon* dawns Bank CEIC ¶WD INA IDA PAR
Deutsche Bank AG/London Page 19
CONFIDENTIAL — PURSUANT TO FED. R. CRIM. P. 6(e) DB-SDNY-0120339
CONFIDENTIAL SDNY_GM_00266523
EFTA01459705