Emerging Markets: Preview of the Week Ahead

Stock Markets

EM FX was mixed Friday to cap off a mostly lower week. Obviously, we’re seeing a bit of a washout in EM after the hawkish FOMC. Market was overly complacent and very long EM going into the FOMC meeting. The big question is how deep this selloff gets. For the better part of this year, EM dips have been met with renewed buying. We remain cautious on EM and think that investors should avoid the high beta currencies like ZAR, TRY, BRL, MXN.

Stock Markets Emerging Markets, June 14

Source: economist.com - Click to enlarge

Taiwan

Taiwan reports May export orders Tuesday, which are expected to rise 7.6% y/y vs. 7.4% in April.  The central bank meets Thursday and is expected to keep rates steady at 1.375%. Taiwan reports May IP Friday, which is expected to rise 1.4% y/y vs. -0.6% in April.

South Africa

South Africa reports Q1 current account data Tuesday. The deficit is expected to widen to -1.8% of GDP from -1.7% in Q4. It then reports May CPI Wednesday, which is expected to remain steady at 5.3% y/y. This would remain within the 3-6% target range. SARB next meets July 20, and rates are expected to be kept steady at 7.0%.

Hungary

Hungary central bank meets Tuesday and is expected to keep rates steady at 0.9%. However, it may add stimulus via unconventional measures to offset recent forint strength.

Poland

Poland reports May industrial and construction output, PPI, and real retail sales Tuesday. Consensus y/y readings are 8.3%, 12.6%, 2.9%, and 7.6% y/y, respectively. The central bank releases its minutes Thursday.

Russia

Russia reports May real retail sales Tuesday, which are expected to rise 0.5% y/y vs. flat in April. The central bank cut rates 25 bp to 9.0% on Friday, and signaled further cautious easing in H2. More important for Russian growth is the price of oil.

Malaysia

Malaysia reports May CPI Wednesday, which is expected to rise 4.1% y/y vs. 4.4% in April. The central bank does not have an explicit inflation target. Next policy meeting is July 13, rates are expected to be kept steady at 3.0%.

Argentina

Argentina reports Q1 GDP Wednesday, which is expected to grow 0.2% y/y vs. -2.1% in Q4. If so, this would be the first positive reading since Q1 2016.  The fundamentals are slowly improving, with CPI inflation easing to 24% y/y in May from the peak of 27.5% in April.

Philippines

Philippines central bank meets Thursday and is expected to keep rates steady at 3.0%. CPI rose 3.1% y/y in May, close to the 3% target and well within the 2-4% target range. We see steady rates for now, but the bank has signaled a more hawkish stance if price pressures rise.

Brazil

Brazil central bank releases its quarterly inflation report Thursday. Brazil reports mid-June IPCA inflation Friday, which is expected to rise 3.48% y/y vs. 3.77% in mid-May. Petrobras just announced cuts to gas and diesel fuel prices, so price pressures are likely to move lower. COPOM next meets July 26, and a 75 bp cut to 9.5% is expected.

Mexico

Mexico reports mid-June CPI Thursday, which is expected to rise 6.25% y/y vs. 6.17% in mid-May. This would be the highest rate since January 2009 and further above the 2-4% target range. Banco de Mexico meets that day and is expected to hike rates 25 bp to 7.0%. With the peso firming and inflation showing signs of topping out, this is likely to be the last hike in the cycle.

Singapore

Singapore reports May CPI Friday, which is expected to rise 1.3% y/y vs. 0.4% in April. It also reports May IP that day, which is expected to rise 6.8% y/y vs. 6.7% in April. Despite firmer data, the MAS opted to keep its forward guidance intact at its April meeting, which suggests no move at the October meeting.

GDP, Consumer Inflation and Current Accounts

The Economist poll of forecasters, June 2017 Source: economist.com - Click to enlarge