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Mexican Peso slumps as Banxico downward revises Mexico’s GDP


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  • Mexican Peso declines slightly against the Dollar, traders focus on upcoming Banxico monetary policy insights.
  • Market anticipates 75 basis points of rate cuts from Banxico in the first half of 2024, eyeing a shift to 10.50%.
  • US economic data and Federal Reserve officials’ speeches set the backdrop for MXN’s movements against the USD.

Mexican Peso edges lower against the US Dollar on Wednesday, posting modest losses ahead of the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) Q4 2023 report, which would update the view of monetary policy and projections. Data from the United States showed the economy expanded at a slower pace, while investors brace for a crucial US inflation report. The USD/MXN exchanges hands at 17.10, up 0.27%.

Mexico’s economic docket is light, except for Banxico’s release. Governor Victoria Rodriguez Ceja said the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was downward revised from 3% in the previous report to 2.8%. For 2025, she expects GDP to be at 1.5%, unchanged from the previous projections. Banxico estimates they will achieve the 3% goal in the second quarter of 2025.

In the meantime, expectations that the Mexican central bank would ease monetary policy in March remain high, with market participants estimating 75 basis points of easing over the next six months. This means the Mexican interest rates, currently standing at 11.25%, would be lowered to 10.50% in the first half of 2024.

Across the border, the US schedule featured the release of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for Q4 2023 and Retail and Wholesale Inventories for January. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve (Fed) policymakers will cross the wires, led by regional Fed Presidents Raphael Bostic, Susan Collins and John C. Williams.

Daily digest market movers: Mexican Peso drifts lower ahead of Banxico’s Q4 2023 report

  • Mexico’s economy is expected to slow down due to higher interest rates set by Banxico at 11.25%. That’s the main reason that sparked a shift in three of the five governors of the Mexican Central Bank, who are eyeing the first rate cut at the March 21 meeting.
  • In that event, the Mexican Peso could depreciate, opening the door for further upside on the USD/MXN pair.
  • The latest inflation report in Mexico showed that headline and underlying inflation continued to dip toward Banxico’s goal of 3%, plus or minus 1%, while economic growth exceeded estimates but finished below Q3’s 3.3%.
  • Mexico’s economic data released during the week from February 26 to March 1.
    • The Balance of Trade for January revealed the country posted a trade deficit of $302 million.
    • Mexico’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the first half of February was 4.45%, down from 4.9% YoY.
    • Mexico’s Core CPI slowed from 4.78% to 4.63% on an annual basis.
    • Mexico’s GDP for Q4 2023 exceeded estimates of 2.4% YoY and hit 2.5%, less than Q3 2023 print of 3.3%.
  • Economic trade issues between Mexico and the US could depreciate the Mexican currency if the Mexican government fails to resolve its steel and aluminum dispute with the United States. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai warned the US could reimpose tariffs on the commodities.
  • Across the border, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the last quarter of 2023 missed estimates by a tick, though it came at 3.2% YoY, down from Q3 4.9%.
  • US Retail Sales Inventories rose 0.3% MoM in January, below 0.4% in the previous month’s data, while Wholesale Inventories declined -0.1% MoM, missing estimates of 0.1%
  • In January, US Durable Goods Orders significantly declined to -6.1% MoM, exceeding the anticipated contraction of -4.5% and marking a steeper fall compared to December’s -0.3% decrease.
  • In December, the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index indicated a monthly decline of -0.3%, a slight acceleration in the contraction pace from November’s -0.2%. On an annual basis, home prices rose by 6.1%, surpassing both expectations and the growth rate from the previous month.
  • Market players had trimmed the odds for the first 25 basis point (bps) rate cut in June, with odds lying at 49%, down from 53% a day ago, while 39% of investors expected the Fed to keep rates unchanged at the current level of 5.25%-5.50%.

Technical analysis: Mexican Peso trips down as USD/MXN meanders above 50-day SMA

The USD/MXN is trading above the 50-day Simple Moving Average (SMA), which stands at 17.06, after the pair posted three days of losses. Relative Strength Index (RSI) studies are about to turn bullish, which could exacerbate a leg up toward the 17.10 area. Once cleared, traders could target 17.20. Further upside would be expected if buyers reclaim the 200-day SMA at 17.25 and the 100-day SMA at 17.33.

On the flip side, if USD/MXN drops below the 50-day SMA, look for a challenge of the 17.00 mark. A breach of the latter, and the pair would tumble to test yearly lows of 16.78, followed by last year’s low of 16.62.

USD/MXN Price Action – Daily Chart

Central banks FAQs

Central Banks have a key mandate which is making sure that there is price stability in a country or region. Economies are constantly facing inflation or deflation when prices for certain goods and services are fluctuating. Constant rising prices for the same goods means inflation, constant lowered prices for the same goods means deflation. It is the task of the central bank to keep the demand in line by tweaking its policy rate. For the biggest central banks like the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB) or the Bank of England (BoE), the mandate is to keep inflation close to 2%.

A central bank has one important tool at its disposal to get inflation higher or lower, and that is by tweaking its benchmark policy rate, commonly known as interest rate. On pre-communicated moments, the central bank will issue a statement with its policy rate and provide additional reasoning on why it is either remaining or changing (cutting or hiking) it. Local banks will adjust their savings and lending rates accordingly, which in turn will make it either harder or easier for people to earn on their savings or for companies to take out loans and make investments in their businesses. When the central bank hikes interest rates substantially, this is called monetary tightening. When it is cutting its benchmark rate, it is called monetary easing.

A central bank is often politically independent. Members of the central bank policy board are passing through a series of panels and hearings before being appointed to a policy board seat. Each member in that board often has a certain conviction on how the central bank should control inflation and the subsequent monetary policy. Members that want a very loose monetary policy, with low rates and cheap lending, to boost the economy substantially while being content to see inflation slightly above 2%, are called ‘doves’. Members that rather want to see higher rates to reward savings and want to keep a lit on inflation at all time are called ‘hawks’ and will not rest until inflation is at or just below 2%.

Normally, there is a chairman or president who leads each meeting, needs to create a consensus between the hawks or doves and has his or her final say when it would come down to a vote split to avoid a 50-50 tie on whether the current policy should be adjusted. The chairman will deliver speeches which often can be followed live, where the current monetary stance and outlook is being communicated. A central bank will try to push forward its monetary policy without triggering violent swings in rates, equities, or its currency. All members of the central bank will channel their stance toward the markets in advance of a policy meeting event. A few days before a policy meeting takes place until the new policy has been communicated, members are forbidden to talk publicly. This is called the blackout period.