Please find enclosed the latest edition of our PERSPECTIVES Viewpoint – designed to provide regular, up-to-date analysis of key trends in all the major asset classes.
In this Viewpoint FX, we return to the core drivers of currency markets, focusing on how monetary policy divergence and macro fundamentals are reasserting their influence. As inflation dynamics, growth differentials and central bank trajectories reshape rate expectations, we explore how these forces are translating into FX opportunities – and why relative policy paths and real yield differentials may once again anchor currency performance in an environment of fading cyclical distortions.
Key takeaways
- The USD has been supported by geopolitical risk premia and a hawkish repricing of Fed expectations in swaps. A sustained de-escalation in the Middle East should unlock EUR upside, particularly given the ECB’s likely front-loaded tightening in response to elevated inflation expectations.
- Structural factors such as gradual monetary policy normalisation and capital repatriation flows support a stronger JPY.
- CNY has outperformed most currencies vs. USD in 2026, appreciating by roughly 3% YTD and showing resilience even during geopolitical shocks. CNY still looks undervalued.