Should Banxico Keep Rates Steady or React to Inflation?

USD/MXN Forecast: Neutral

We saw the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) hold interest rates steady at 4% on Thursday which was in line with expectations. Economic recovery in the Mexican economy is struggling to materialize given the uncontrollable spread of the virus in Latin America, but Banxico decided unanimously that borrowing costs should not be lowered further after the reading for the first part of March saw inflation shoot up above 4%. Data published on Thursday also showed that economic activity fell 5.4% year-on-year in January, double the 2.7% decline recorded the previous month.

As the central bank outlined in its statement, monetary policy is in a highly delicate situation trying to balance, economic activity, high inflation, and volatile financial markets. So the question now is whether Banxico will continue easing rate to achieve full employment and aid economic recovery, or will it focus on soaring inflation and try and attract capital flows via carry trades?

By keeping rates unchanged from last month’s expected cut, the bank is somewhat joining the more aggressive approach of other major emerging economies so far in 2021. Brazil, Russia, and Turkey all raised borrowing costs last week. But keeping monetary policy unchanged for an extended period could also put further pressure on Latin America’s most traded currency. The Peso lost more than 9%until the start of March as rising US Treasury yields and emerging market volatility prompted an exodus of foreign investors from the country’s local bonds.

Money markets are now starting to price in two possible rate hikes in 2021 after Thursday’s meeting.

Source: Refinitiv

USD/MXN Levels

The long-term trend in USD/MXN continues to be bearish at this point, although the past month has provided some choppy trading conditions. I was talking last week about this possible head and shoulders pattern on the daily chart, and although the pair did jump higher at the open this past week, there is still a way to go before we can confirm the pattern is underway.

USD/MXN has always been a good barometer of overall sentiment in markets so with a shortened week next week due to the Easter holidays and the third wave of Covid-19 infections spreading fast in Europe, we may see the pair drift higher in the coming weeks as risk cools off slightly. If so, the 61.8% Fibonacci (21.19) and the 21.62 horizontal resistance may attract new sellers, which would play into the overall bearish trend in the long-term.

But so far this past week buyers were unable to bring USD/MXN above the 21 dollar mark, so we may see the pair correct lower again, although the 50-day simple moving average has been tough support to break this past week, so we’ll need to see a fall below 20.50 to consider further bearish moves. If achieved, the next area of interest is the 76.45 Fibonacci at 20.17.

USD/MXN Daily chart

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— Written by Daniela Sabin Hathorn, Market Analyst

Follow Daniela on Twitter @HathornSabin


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