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Asia Optimistic as Tapering Pushed Back Emerging Markets Optimistic as Fed Tapering Is Pushed Back
(about 7 hours later)
JAKARTA — A wave of relief swept across Asia on Thursday after the Federal Reserve decided to maintain its pace of monetary stimulus, as investors and governments concluded that the financial environment for emerging markets would be less harsh than expected in coming months. JAKARTA — A wave of relief swept across Asia, Europe and Africa on Thursday after the Federal Reserve decided to maintain its pace of monetary stimulus, as investors and governments concluded that the financial environment for emerging markets would be less harsh than expected in coming months.
Currencies and stock markets across the region surged as short-term interest rates held steady in the United States and long-term interest rates actually dipped there, making it more attractive to put money into higher-yielding investments in developing countries for at least a few more months. Some of the biggest market increases took place in Indonesia, which has tended to be the emerging market most affected by Fed decisions over the years and the country hardest hit by traders over the past couple of weeks. The Jakarta stock exchange rebounded 4.4 percent by midday, and the rupiah gained 2 percent against the dollar. Currencies and stock markets across the developing world rose as short-term interest rates held steady in the United States and long-term interest rates actually dipped there, making it more attractive to put money into higher-yielding investments in developing countries for at least a few more months.
The Bank of Indonesia gave a cautious welcome to the Fed’s decision. Some of the biggest market increases took place in Indonesia, which has tended to be the emerging market most affected by Fed decisions over the years and the country hardest hit by traders over the past couple of weeks. The Jakarta stock exchange rose nearly 5 percent, and the rupiah gained 4 percent against the dollar.
“For us, this is a short-term relief,” said Difi A. Johansyah, the bank’s chief spokesman and chief liaison to Parliament and the rest of the Indonesian government. The Bank of Indonesia cautiously welcomed the Fed’s decision.
“They reduce some of the pressures for capital outflows and reduce the pressure on the rupiah for the time being, but we have to work on our homework to stabilize the rupiah — the root of the problem is domestic, the current account deficit and inflation,” he said in an interview at the central bank’s headquarters seven hours after the Fed’s decision. “For us, this is a short-term relief,” said Difi A. Johansyah, the bank’s chief spokesman and the chief liaison to Parliament and the rest of the Indonesian government.
The Fed’s action also brought some breathing room for India, where the rupee was the worst performer of the world’s 78 internationally traded currencies in August but has started to recover this month. The Mumbai stock market increased 2.9 percent by midday, while the rupee climbed 2.4 percent against the dollar. “They reduce some of the pressures for capital outflows and reduce the pressure on the rupiah for the time being, but we have to work on our homework to stabilize the rupiah. The root of the problem is domestic, the current account deficit and inflation,” he said in an interview at the central bank’s headquarters seven hours after the Fed’s decision.
“If liquidity flows to emerging markets revive, those economies that have suffered the most — India, South Africa, Turkey, Indonesia and Brazil — stand to gain,” said Ajay Bodke, the head of investment strategy and advice at Prabhudas Lilladher, a brokerage based in Mumbai. “It also increases the maneuverability that the new Reserve Bank of India governor has in charting his medium-term course for the monetary policy.” The Fed’s action also gave India some breathing room. The rupee was the worst performer of the world’s 78 internationally traded currencies in August but has started to recover this month. The Mumbai stock market increased 3.3 percent, and the rupee climbed 2.4 percent against the dollar.
The new governor, Raghuram Rajan, a former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund and chief economic adviser to the Indian government, took office in Mumbai on Sept. 4 and has scheduled the release of his first statement and news conference on monetary policy for Friday. At his inaugural press conference on his first day in office , he stuck to banking deregulation. The Turkish stock market soared 8 percent in early trading, and the South African stock market jumped 2 percent. Latin American markets had risen sharply late Wednesday following the Fed’s announcement. But as the currency trading day progressed in Europe and Africa, there were some signs of flagging enthusiasm for emerging markets, as the Turkish lira was down 0.3 percent after an initial jump in value and the South African rand was down 0.6 percent.
Although India and Indonesia have attracted the most attention in recent weeks among emerging economies, other countries’ stock markets and currencies also rallied strongly on Thursday. The Hang Seng Index rose 1.7 percent by midday in Hong Kong and the Nikkei 225 climbed 1.6 percent in Tokyo. “If liquidity flows to emerging markets revive, those economies that have suffered the most — India, South Africa, Turkey, Indonesia and Brazil — stand to gain,” said Ajay Bodke, the head of investment strategy and advice at Prabhudas Lilladher, a brokerage firm based in Mumbai. “It also increases the maneuverability that the new Reserve Bank of India governor has in charting his medium-term course for the monetary policy.”
Among currencies, the Philippine peso and Korean won rose 1 percent against the dollar, while the Malaysian ringgit climbed 2.1 percent. The Japanese yen actually weakened 0.4 percent against the dollar, as investors shifted money out of industrialized countries like Japan and back into emerging markets. The new governor, Raghuram Rajan, a former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund and chief economic adviser to the Indian government, took office in Mumbai on Sept. 4 and plans to release his first statement and news conference on monetary policy on Friday. At his inaugural news conference on his first day in office, he stuck to banking deregulation.
The big questions now lie in how long a respite the Federal Reserve has granted before it eventually starts tapering its program of monetary stimulus, and in how much damage may have alreadybeen done to emerging economies over the last several months by marketvolatility and capital flight. Most economists regard Fed tapering as inevitable, and still probable at some point in the coming months. Although India and Indonesia have attracted the most attention in recent weeks among emerging economies, other countries’ stock markets and currencies also rallied strongly on Thursday. The Hang Seng Index closed 1.7 percent higher in Hong Kong and the Nikkei 225 closed up 1.8 percent in Tokyo.
The indexes in Thailand and the Philippines rose more than 3 percent, and the S.&P./ASX 200 index in Australia rose 1.1 percent. European stock markets also rose early Thursday. The FTSE 100 rose 1.4 percent soon after trading opened in London, and the main indexes in Germany and France rose 1.2 percent.
Among currencies, the Philippine peso and Korean won rose 1 percent against the dollar, while the Malaysian ringgit climbed 2.1 percent. The Japanese yen weakened 0.4 percent against the dollar as investors shifted money out of industrialized countries like Japan and back into emerging markets.
The big questions now are: How long a respite has the Federal Reserve taken before starting to taper its program of monetary stimulus, and how much damage may have already been done to emerging economies over the past several months by market volatility and capital flight? Most economists regard Fed tapering as inevitable, and still probable in the coming months.
The emerging economies facing the biggest challenges in recent months have been wrestling with broadly measured trade deficits equal to several percent or more of their annual output. They have relied until now on foreign investment to pay for these deficits as well as to finance interest payments on foreign borrowing, making them especially vulnerable to capital outflows that have reached tens of billions of dollars over the summer.The emerging economies facing the biggest challenges in recent months have been wrestling with broadly measured trade deficits equal to several percent or more of their annual output. They have relied until now on foreign investment to pay for these deficits as well as to finance interest payments on foreign borrowing, making them especially vulnerable to capital outflows that have reached tens of billions of dollars over the summer.
Falling emerging market currencies have also driven up the cost of commodities like oil that are priced in dollars.Falling emerging market currencies have also driven up the cost of commodities like oil that are priced in dollars.
“If the weakness of the rupiah lasts a longer time, it will create imported inflation,” Mr. Johansyah said.“If the weakness of the rupiah lasts a longer time, it will create imported inflation,” Mr. Johansyah said.
The Bank of Indonesia raised its two benchmark interest rates by a quarter of a percent on Sept. 12, in what was widely interpreted by economists at the time as an unexpected measure to try to halt the increasingly rapid descent of the rupiah. The rupiah stopped falling after the central bank acted.The Bank of Indonesia raised its two benchmark interest rates by a quarter of a percent on Sept. 12, in what was widely interpreted by economists at the time as an unexpected measure to try to halt the increasingly rapid descent of the rupiah. The rupiah stopped falling after the central bank acted.
But Mr. Johansyah denied that the main motive had been to respond to currency markets, saying that the central bank’s plan had been to address inflationary pressures within Indonesia and curb the current account deficit, a broad measure of trade. The Fed’s action on Wednesday is not a reason to reverse the rate increase on Sept. 12, he said.But Mr. Johansyah denied that the main motive had been to respond to currency markets, saying that the central bank’s plan had been to address inflationary pressures within Indonesia and curb the current account deficit, a broad measure of trade. The Fed’s action on Wednesday is not a reason to reverse the rate increase on Sept. 12, he said.
“We put all of our policies toward stabilization" of the rupiah, inflation and the current account, he said. "This is our focus now, rather than growth.” “We put all of our policies toward stabilization” of the rupiah, inflation and the current account, he said. “This is our focus now, rather than growth.”
A Goldman Sachs analysis on Wednesday found that interest rates fluctuated more in Indonesia in response to Fed policy actions than in any of 18 other emerging markets studied.A Goldman Sachs analysis on Wednesday found that interest rates fluctuated more in Indonesia in response to Fed policy actions than in any of 18 other emerging markets studied.
Indonesia allows both its citizens and foreigners to hold deposits in dollars at Indonesian banks. Many were reluctant to convert those deposits to rupiah until recently because they worried that the local currency was overvalued, but the central bank now perceives signs that exporters and others with dollars are becoming more willing to convert them, Mr. Johansyah said.Indonesia allows both its citizens and foreigners to hold deposits in dollars at Indonesian banks. Many were reluctant to convert those deposits to rupiah until recently because they worried that the local currency was overvalued, but the central bank now perceives signs that exporters and others with dollars are becoming more willing to convert them, Mr. Johansyah said.
“Some dollar holders are happy at this level, so they are ready to convert dollars to rupiah,” he said.“Some dollar holders are happy at this level, so they are ready to convert dollars to rupiah,” he said.
The Bank of Indonesia gained political independence in 1999 after Indonesia suffered among the greatest damage from the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and 1998, although the bank continues to work closely with the government.The Bank of Indonesia gained political independence in 1999 after Indonesia suffered among the greatest damage from the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and 1998, although the bank continues to work closely with the government.
President Xi Jinping of China is expected to come to Indonesia on Oct. 2 and hold extensive meetings the following day with Indonesian leaders. Sofjan Wanandi, a local tycoon who is the chairman of the Indonesian Employers’ Association and a close adviser of national leaders, said in an interview that he expected China to provide Indonesia with a $25 billion bilateral swap agreement.President Xi Jinping of China is expected to come to Indonesia on Oct. 2 and hold extensive meetings the following day with Indonesian leaders. Sofjan Wanandi, a local tycoon who is the chairman of the Indonesian Employers’ Association and a close adviser of national leaders, said in an interview that he expected China to provide Indonesia with a $25 billion bilateral swap agreement.
That would buttress Indonesia’s ability to intervene in currency markets to stem any further slide of the rupiah. The Bank of Indonesia had foreign exchange reserves of $93 billion as of Aug. 30, the most recent date available.That would buttress Indonesia’s ability to intervene in currency markets to stem any further slide of the rupiah. The Bank of Indonesia had foreign exchange reserves of $93 billion as of Aug. 30, the most recent date available.

Neha Thirani Bagri contributed reporting from Mumbai.

Some analysts cautioned that the Fed’s statement was likely to be only a “short-term positive,” particularly as the timing of a reduction in bond-buying and the sustainability of a recent upswing in China’s economy remained uncertain.
After an initial relief rally over the next few days, “markets will start to fret again about tapering beginning in December. And that won’t be the end of it. Once tapering begins, the next worry will be when asset purchases will end altogether. And then, when rates will rise,” equity strategists at HSBC wrote in a research note. “We see a year or more when equity markets dip (and then recover) each time the Fed moves to (or toward) ending its ultra-easy policy.”
Meanwhile, they added, the delay in the Fed’s “tapering” of its stimulus gives policy makers in Asia a chance to speed up much-needed reforms. “But the risk is that the current surge in equity markets could also bring back complacency.”

Neha Thirani Bagri contributed reporting from Mumbai and Bettina Wassener from Hong Kong.