THE PESO could depreciate this week versus the dollar ahead of an anticipated rate hike in the United States, although optimism towards the local stock market and the rollout of economic reforms could temper such weakness.

The peso may weaken this week as investors look ahead to the US Federal Reserve’s policy meeting. -- BW FILE PHOTO
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The local unit moved sideways on Friday to close at P49.50 against the greenback, nearly flat coming from Thursday’s P49.495 finish. Week on week, the peso appreciated for the third straight week from P49.55-to-a-dollar seen on June 2.

The peso even traded at a six-month high of P49.40 on June 5, its best showing since a P49.35 close on Nov. 16, 2016. Traders attributed the currency’s strength to comments from Moody’s Investors Service that the passage of the first tax reform package at the House of Representatives is “credit positive” for the Philippines.

Local financial markets remained closed on Monday in observance of Independence Day.

An analyst interviewed over the weekend said the peso might weaken in the coming days ahead of an expected “lift-off” in US interest rates during the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) June 13-14 meeting, coupled with market uncertainty towards the United Kingdom.

“The dollar might appreciate this week, fueled by the likely interest rate hike of the US Federal Reserve and safe-haven buying amid political concerns in the UK that could derail Brexit negotiations,” said Guian Angelo S. Dumalagan, market economist at Land Bank of the Philippines.

“However, the greenback’s strength might be tempered by mixed US data and possible hints of a slower pace of US interest rate normalization in the coming months,” Mr. Dumalagan said.

Traders are pricing in a 25-basis-point rate increase from the FOMC this week, which would be the second hike this year following a similar move announced in March.

On the other hand, markets grew uncertain towards the UK and the pound sterling after the June 8 general elections left Prime Minister Theresa May with a minority in parliament ahead of formal discussions for Britain’s departure from the European Union, Reuters said in a report.

Another trader said the Fed hike has already been priced in by market players, so any movements on the exchange rate can be influenced by developments in the local economy.

“The Fed hike has been anticipated already, so I think what people will want to watch is the turnout of the first half... From a week-on-week perspective, the peso is appreciating mainly because of the stock market,” the second trader said by phone. “The second quarter also saw the markets ecstatic on tax reform, it showed the government’s commitment to pass it.”

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index also breached a new high for the year at 8,001.38 on Monday last week, which was likewise traced to optimism on the government’s tax reform plan.

The House of Representatives approved the first package on May 31 covering lower personal income taxes versus higher excise duties on other goods, leaving the bill open for discussions and approval in Senate as Congress resumes sessions next month.

THE CENTRAL BANK will open another credit surety finance (CSF) in La Union this week, which is relied upon to stretch out access to credit for little scale firms in the region.

Thirteen cooperatives will pool P3.7 million for the new La Union credit surety finance.

In an announcement distributed throughout the end of the week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it will dispatch a CSF agreeable in San Fernando City on Wednesday, denoting the arrival to the program after a deliberate break amid 2016, a decision year.

"The La Union CSF is required to empower financial exercises and give openings for work in the territory," the BSP explanation read, taking note of that the office will be the 46th in the nation.

The BSP said there are 13 cooperatives that will pool P3.7 million under the La Union credit office. Thusly, the La Union common government will pour P3.5 million to the store.

The national bank's CSF program gives elective insurance to smaller scale, little, and medium-scale ventures (MSMEs) by arranging them into cooperatives.

Here, CSF units fill in as underwriter for its part gatherings and nongovernment associations as they make formal advances from banks, which they will use to manage and grow business operations.

Under the plan, the MSMEs pool their cash into one aggregate reserve which will then be acknowledged by banks as guarantee. Nearby government units and state-run offices like the Industrial Guarantee and Loan Fund, the Development Bank of the Philippines, and the Land Bank of the Philippines may likewise pour in assets to CSF offices as gifts or speculations, so that part organizations can acquire greater sums.

THE PESO could depreciate this week versus the dollar ahead of an anticipated rate hike in the United States, although optimism towards the local stock market and the rollout of economic reforms could temper such weakness.

The peso may weaken this week as investors look ahead to the US Federal Reserve’s policy meeting. -- BW FILE PHOTO
RELATED STORIES

Peso up ahead of FOMC statement
Peso slips ahead of FOMC
Peso flat ahead of Fed policy meeting
Peso ends flat ahead of UK vote, ECB meeting
Peso rises amid cautious market

The local unit moved sideways on Friday to close at P49.50 against the greenback, nearly flat coming from Thursday’s P49.495 finish. Week on week, the peso appreciated for the third straight week from P49.55-to-a-dollar seen on June 2.

The peso even traded at a six-month high of P49.40 on June 5, its best showing since a P49.35 close on Nov. 16, 2016. Traders attributed the currency’s strength to comments from Moody’s Investors Service that the passage of the first tax reform package at the House of Representatives is “credit positive” for the Philippines.

Local financial markets remained closed on Monday in observance of Independence Day.

An analyst interviewed over the weekend said the peso might weaken in the coming days ahead of an expected “lift-off” in US interest rates during the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) June 13-14 meeting, coupled with market uncertainty towards the United Kingdom.

“The dollar might appreciate this week, fueled by the likely interest rate hike of the US Federal Reserve and safe-haven buying amid political concerns in the UK that could derail Brexit negotiations,” said Guian Angelo S. Dumalagan, market economist at Land Bank of the Philippines.

“However, the greenback’s strength might be tempered by mixed US data and possible hints of a slower pace of US interest rate normalization in the coming months,” Mr. Dumalagan said.

Traders are pricing in a 25-basis-point rate increase from the FOMC this week, which would be the second hike this year following a similar move announced in March.

On the other hand, markets grew uncertain towards the UK and the pound sterling after the June 8 general elections left Prime Minister Theresa May with a minority in parliament ahead of formal discussions for Britain’s departure from the European Union, Reuters said in a report.

Another trader said the Fed hike has already been priced in by market players, so any movements on the exchange rate can be influenced by developments in the local economy.

“The Fed hike has been anticipated already, so I think what people will want to watch is the turnout of the first half... From a week-on-week perspective, the peso is appreciating mainly because of the stock market,” the second trader said by phone. “The second quarter also saw the markets ecstatic on tax reform, it showed the government’s commitment to pass it.”

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index also breached a new high for the year at 8,001.38 on Monday last week, which was likewise traced to optimism on the government’s tax reform plan.

The House of Representatives approved the first package on May 31 covering lower personal income taxes versus higher excise duties on other goods, leaving the bill open for discussions and approval in Senate as Congress resumes sessions next month.