Article

EMLD World Tour October 2021: Czech hikes

9 November 2021
Wim Vandenhoeck
Wim Vandenhoeck
Senior Portfolio Manager
Gerald Evelyn
Gerald Evelyn
Client Portfolio Manager, Invesco Global Debt

Invesco’s Global Debt Team publishes monthly emerging market local debt (EMLD) outlooks, with a spotlight on a new country each month. The series is introduced here, with a few words on the team. Below is the update for October.

Last month, we highlighted the accelerating pace of rate hikes by the Central Bank of Chile. This month, the Czech National Bank (CNB) followed suit and surprised markets by raising its policy rate by 75 basis points.[1] As with Chile, financial markets appeared to be pricing in a smaller hike – in the range of 25 to 50 basis points.[2]

The CNB has always been an orthodox central bank and the larger than expected hike was a signal that inflation is likely to be more persistent than originally forecast. We believe current oil and natural gas shortages ahead of the winter season could put upward pressure on inflation, leading the CNB to frontload its rate hiking cycle.

With this in mind, we believe the five-year part of the rate curve is interesting. We expect the curve to invert but are cautious on duration overall, as questions remain over where the terminal rate will ultimately end up.

Additionally, the CNB’s decision will likely have knock-on effects in the region, with other central banks (such as the national banks of Hungary, Poland and Romania) potentially compelled to be more aggressive in their policy normalisation going forward.


What’s next for emerging market debt?

With COVID-19 slowly fading and economic activity robust, price pressures and perhaps more importantly inflation expectations have become pressure points for rates markets globally.

The US Federal Reserve (Fed) has cleared a path for tapering and other developed market (DM) central banks are starting to indicate a gradual unwinding of the extraordinary monetary stimulus implemented over the last 18 months.

While the Fed’s communication on tapering was positive for the US dollar in the short-term, we believe the impact on equity valuations may halt or even reverse the strong flows into equities, primarily US and Chinese, that have benefited the US currency. However, to see US dollar weakness in the medium-term, there would need to be continued improvement in non-US growth combined with US growth in line with market expectations.

Over the next few months, monetary and fiscal developments in the US are likely to have an outsized impact on global markets, with excess savings potentially attracted to ‘safer’ risk assets.

In addition to inflation concerns, market participants turned their focus to China in September. The fallout from China’s crackdown on its over-levered real estate sector may lead to slower growth and could have broader implications for other emerging markets (EMs) in the region. Though partially government-enforced for environmental reasons, the effect of power shortages could be similar.

It remains to be seen whether either factor will impact supply chains or add to global inflation pressures.

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  • 1 Source: CNB, 30 September 2021.

    2 Source: Reuters, 30 September 2021.

  • The value of investments and any income will fluctuate (this may partly be the result of exchange rate fluctuations) and investors may not get back the full amount invested.

    When investing in less developed countries, you should be prepared to accept significantly large fluctuations in value.

    Debt instruments are exposed to credit risk which is the ability of the borrower to repay the interest and capital on the redemption date.

    Investments in debt instruments which are of lower credit quality may result in large fluctuations in value.

    Changes in interest rates will result in fluctuations in value. 

  • Data as of 15 October 2021 unless stated otherwise.

    This document is marketing material and is not intended as a recommendation to invest in any particular asset class, security or strategy. Regulatory requirements that require impartiality of investment/investment strategy recommendations are therefore not applicable nor are any prohibitions to trade before publication. The information provided is for illustrative purposes only, it should not be relied upon as recommendations to buy or sell securities.

    Where individuals or the business have expressed opinions, they are based on current market conditions, they may differ from those of other investment professionals, they are subject to change without notice and are not to be construed as investment advice.