Risk managing the US dollar - BoA Securities

Markets appear to have bought into the “soft landing” narrative after the Federal Reserve’s hefty interest rate cut, but Bank of America Securities remains a seller of the US dollar for now as the US central bank has room to go lower.

Following the Fed’s 50bp cut, front end rates (the main driver of foreign exchange moves) reflect expected Fed easing magnitudes on par with significant past downturns, BoA Securities said, in a note, dated Sept. 26.

Meanwhile, risk-asset performance has been more consistent with a “soft landing” and reflation: Higher-beta FX outperforming lower-beta, equities and gold higher, credit tighter, and longer-end UST curve bear steepening. 

A soft landing is still the bank’s base case, and it continues to foresee broad USD depreciation. But hard landing risks appear to be underpriced, and “we must be mindful of risks in these uncertain times.”

Large rate shocks (in either direction) tend to be dollar positive, but the nature of the move matters. 

“With the ‘soft landing’ narrative well priced, any negative headline shocks may indeed lead to brief risk-off USD retracements. Still, we believe the USD is in a “sell-the-rally” regime for now.”

 

Source: Investing.com