- USD/MXN reached a daily high above 18.0000 before tumbling toward the 17.90s area.
- Fed’s Cook expects inflation to slow down as measured by headline inflation, but core PCE is foreseen to stay sticky.
- USD/MXN Price AnalysisL Downward pressured below 18.00; otherwise, expect upside towards the 20-day EMA.
The USD/MXN loses its appeal and drops below 18.0000, even though buyers eyed higher ceilings at around the 20-day EMA. A risk-off impulse keeps the emerging market currency fluctuating, although the US Dollar (USD) weakened. At the time of writing, the USD/MXN is exchanging hands at 17.9762.
USD/MXN seesaws as sentiment fluctuated: while US and Mexican central bank divergence could weigh on the MXN
After bottoming around the 17.9000 area in the last week, the USD/MXN pierced the 18.00 area before retracing and turning negative on Monday. That after the latest round of mixed US economic data and Mexican inflation slowing in the first half of April suggested that central bank divergence could weigh on the MXN.
Last Friday, the US Federal Reserve Governor, Lisa Cook, expressed that monetary policy is entering an uncertain phase and suggested that headwinds from the banking sector could impact the outlook for rising interest rates. She also anticipates a deceleration in March PCE inflation, though she added that core inflation remains sticky.
The agenda of US economic releases featured the March Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI), with figures plummeting to -0.19, above estimates of -20, unchanged from February’s reading. Despite the previously mentioned, the three-month moving average ticked up to 0.01%, signaling that the US economy continues to grow slower.
Of late, the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Business Index in April plummeted to -23.4, well below the -11.00 estimated, as the survey showed that perceptions of broader business conditions worsened, according to the poll.
On the Mexican front, annual headline inflation rose 6.24% through mid-April, its lowest level since October 2021. Core inflation stood at 7.75% for the same period. Even though the Bank of Mexico’s (Banxico) target is 3%, expectations that the central bank completed its tightening cycle have arisen.
Aside from this, investors’ odds that the Federal Reserve will hike rates by 25 bps are at 90%, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. However, traders estimate that the US central bank “could” cut rates by the September meeting, followed by another one in December.
USD/MXN Technical Analysis
The USD/MXN continues to track the 20-day EMA as its dynamic resistance for the latest couple of weeks. Although the USD/MXN printed a daily high at around 18.0480 shies of testing 18.0500, it retreated back below the 18.00 mark as it headed for testing the YTD lows at 17.8968. Downside risks emerged below 18.0000, with key support levels at 17.9142, before the abovementioned YTD low. Conversely, buyers reclaiming 18.0000 will pave the way for the USD/MXN to test the 20-day EMA at around 18.1200 before rallying to the 50-day EMA at 18.3310.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Read More
The US dollar/Mexican Peso (USD/MXN) exchange rate has fallen below 18.0000 after Mexican inflation cooled off, even with a weaker US dollar.
The MXN has been trending in the opposite direction to the USD, claiming a rise of 8.9% in the past 6 months, despite the dollar’s weakening. This makes it one of the top seven currencies among the 90 developing nation exchanges tracked by Bloomberg.
The Mexico City consumer price index rose 5.37% in the year through October, a 6-month low, led by lower prices in the non-staple food and consumer service sectors. It also follows decreases in Mexican investor confidence as its manufacturing sector contracted for the second consecutive month in October.
The soft US dollar – weakened by cautious consumer spending and stagnant wage growth – has lent some support to the MXN. US consumer spending showed a 0.2% drop in September, compared to the 0.3% expected. This, added to the weak US dollar, has caused the USD/MXN exchange rate to fall below 18.0000 for the first time in months.
In addition, the US Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates steady in their October meeting, citing “significant underutilization of labor resources” as well as “muted inflation pressures”. This contributed to the weakening of the dollar, in turn providing more lift to the MXN.
Experts are optimistic this decrease in Mexican inflation and the weaker US dollar will remain in place, the MXN should continue to gain ground against the USD.
