June is shaping up to be a good month for Southeast Asia’s currencies, with every one gaining.
The rebound is narrowing coronavirus-induced losses sustained by just about every foreign exchange in the region this year. While the Indonesian rupiah, Thai baht and Malaysian ringgit all showed improvement, the Philippine peso is by far the best-performing currency in 2020 with its 1% gain.
The rupiah, which has surged 15% this quarter, may be positioned to challenge the peso given strong foreign demand for the nation’s debt. Here’s a closer look at the main factors influencing the region’s FXs in the second half.
Baht
The Thai baht rose 5.8% this quarter, narrowing the year’s loss to 3.4%. The nation’s current account surplus has given it a boost, but it’s dwindling in the absence of tourism revenues in the lockdown. However, rising gold prices have provided some support for the bullion trading hub.
Headwinds to the baht’s further gains are likely to come from the Bank of Thailand. It warned this month it’s ready to take steps to ensure the currency’s strength doesn’t hurt the economy. Investors will be monitoring the Wednesday policy meeting, where it’s widely expected to keep its key rate unchanged at 0.5%, to see there are currency-related measures.
Peso
The peso’s outperformance is partially due to an improving current account, with imports in April down by the most since 2009 as the nation was under lockdown.
However, it is facing growing headwinds from declining oversees remittances. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has also signalled concern over the appreciation by intervening to stop further gains. Investors will be awaiting guidance on the currency from BSP’s policy meeting on Thursday. The central bank is expected to keep rates unchanged after slashing rates by 125 basis points this year.
Rupiah
Foreign funds have returned for local debt, attracted by the second-highest yields in Asia, after selling about $9.5 billion of government bonds in February and March. There have just been $996 million of inflows since then, indicating potential for further rupiah gains.
Bank Indonesia still considers the currency as undervalued amid low inflation in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, and expectations that the current account deficit will narrow to 1.5% this year. However, near-term gains maybe limited as the central bank cut its key rate by 25 basis points last week, opening the door for further easing.
Singapore Dollar
The Monetary Authority of Singapore manages the currency against major trading partners as a policy tool, rather than using interest rates like other central banks. While the nation’s relaxation of virus-related curbs last week is positive for the local currency, data on Tuesday is forecast to show core inflation has deteriorated further in May.
That’s likely to support the MAS’ current stance of allowing for a weaker currency to spur the trade-reliant economy. The Singapore dollar is down more than 3% this year.
Ringgit
Volatile oil prices and political turmoil have weighed on the ringgit, leaving it at the bottom of the region’s currency rankings so far this year. After falling more than 5% in the first three months, it’s barely up 1% in the second quarter. The ringgit may struggle given FTSE Russell has kept Malaysia on a watchlist for possible exclusion from its World Government Bond Index.
Inflation data on Wednesday is expected to provide cues on Malaysia’s economy and any disappointment could set the stage for additional rate cuts.