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Emerging market currencies out of favour

The rand has found some short-term reprieve over the last few days, although it appears to remain on a weakening trajectory in the medium to long term.

Rand
Source: Bloomberg

While domestic catalysts including weak gross domestic product (GDP), a rate cut and a widening current account deficit have contributed to a softening in the rand this year, the deprecation also comes amid wider risk-off sentiment, which has seen emerging market asset classes mostly under pressure. External narratives contributing to the moves include diminishing carry trade opportunities as the US, European and British central banks adopt a more hawkish stance on monetary policy, and trade war tensions which continue to threaten the state of global economic growth.

The below graph illustrates the currency performances of the dollar against BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) for both the quarter and half-year ending 30 June 2018.

USD/BRICS currencies

The rand

The trends for the rand against its developed market peers are suggesting continued weakness to come. The USD/ZAR, EUR/ZAR and GBP/ZAR pairings highlight these weakening trends as the currencies trade above the 20, 50 and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs).

USD/ZAR

The USD/ZAR price has been finding resistance around the R13.90/$ level. A break of this level is expected to unlock a further move towards the next level of historical resistance considered at R14.40/$.

In this breakout scenario, a close below R13.60/$ might be considered as the failure level for the move. Only if the R13.40/$ level is broken (with a close below) would we consider the short-term trend to be changing direction.

USD/ZAR price chart

EUR/ZAR

The EUR/ZAR set-up is similar to that of USD/ZAR. The EUR/ZAR price has been finding resistance around the R16.20/EUR level. A break of this level is expected to unlock a further move towards the next level of historical resistance considered at R16.65/EUR.

In this breakout scenario, a close below R15.87/EUR might be considered as the failure level for the move. Only if the R15.60/EUR level is broken (with a close below) would we consider the short-term trend to be changing direction.

EUR/ZAR price chart

GBP/ZAR

The GBP/ZAR price set-up is slightly similar to the EUR/ZAR and USD/ZAR currency pairs, in that there is a clear short-term consolidation in the form of a triangle. Should a break above the R18.30/GBP manifest, R18.90/GBP would be the favoured resistance target from the move.

In this scenario, a close below triangle support at R17.95/GBP may be used as the failure level for the trade. Only if the R17.75/GBP level is broken (with a close) would we consider the short-term trend to be changing direction.

GBP/ZAR price chart

The information on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG Bank S.A. accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it and as such is considered to be a marketing communication.

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