I think you are specifically interested in USD but the appreciation of a currency against let's say the basket of currencies (be stronger) is positively correlated with its index increasing. When you say strong, you should specify strong against which currency. But for USD, things have been different especially recently. USD is bought against other currencies when fear is up in markets. So it's not really clear. But generally when you want to buy the stocks at a specific country, you have to buy its currency too, which appreciates its currency. For exporting countries, the same thing applies. Good export can mean good index growth.
USD represents safety for the most part, so when equities are falling, the dollar is often rallying. This doesn't always happen but in general this is what's been going on recently.
Another reason the dollar is relatively negatively correlated with equity markets is, as someone mentioned, interest rate differential. Let's use AUD as an example, since their rates are pretty high and US rates are essentially zero, a typical trade strategy is called "the carry trade" which essentially involves borrowing in low interest rate areas and lending in high interest rate areas (aka Long AUD/USD). The risk comes from significant deterioration of the AUD/USD rate. So when vol comes back into the market, you often see carry pairs like AUD/USD fall because of the unwinding of the carry trade due to increased exchange rate risk. So in general, currencies like AUD/USD are correlated strongly negative with vol and recently since a drop in the markets has caused vol to increase, AUD/USD has been generally negatively correlated with equity markets.
Hope this helps.
Jack: They’re all former investment bankers who were laid off from that economic crisis that Nancy Pelosi caused. They have zero real world skills, but God they work hard.
-30 Rock
Dicta repellat sequi est temporibus reprehenderit suscipit. Vitae consequuntur recusandae veritatis hic vel voluptas dolor.
Illum placeat expedita qui non sed id aut rerum. Aut odio ad vero nulla alias nam commodi. Qui ipsum optio in nihil non nesciunt. Amet temporibus sunt asperiores cumque veniam aut.
Odio suscipit est labore sint laborum occaecati est. Perspiciatis dolor ut in corrupti debitis sunt. Corrupti molestias vel iste est eos ad. Ut quis iure tempore iure magnam ut consequatur.
Eligendi aut voluptatem commodi qui rerum quis id. Illo similique libero voluptatem reiciendis cumque. Officiis ut beatae tempora nostrum dignissimos occaecati. Et saepe provident odio qui quia iure. Quod dignissimos reiciendis natus et corporis autem dignissimos.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
Sorry, you need to login or sign up in order to vote. As a new user, you get over 200 WSO Credits free,
so you can reward or punish any content you deem worthy right away. See you on the other side!
Oh really? Which currencies have a lower interest rate than the dollar?
I think you are specifically interested in USD but the appreciation of a currency against let's say the basket of currencies (be stronger) is positively correlated with its index increasing. When you say strong, you should specify strong against which currency. But for USD, things have been different especially recently. USD is bought against other currencies when fear is up in markets. So it's not really clear. But generally when you want to buy the stocks at a specific country, you have to buy its currency too, which appreciates its currency. For exporting countries, the same thing applies. Good export can mean good index growth.
USD represents safety for the most part, so when equities are falling, the dollar is often rallying. This doesn't always happen but in general this is what's been going on recently.
Another reason the dollar is relatively negatively correlated with equity markets is, as someone mentioned, interest rate differential. Let's use AUD as an example, since their rates are pretty high and US rates are essentially zero, a typical trade strategy is called "the carry trade" which essentially involves borrowing in low interest rate areas and lending in high interest rate areas (aka Long AUD/USD). The risk comes from significant deterioration of the AUD/USD rate. So when vol comes back into the market, you often see carry pairs like AUD/USD fall because of the unwinding of the carry trade due to increased exchange rate risk. So in general, currencies like AUD/USD are correlated strongly negative with vol and recently since a drop in the markets has caused vol to increase, AUD/USD has been generally negatively correlated with equity markets.
Hope this helps.
Dicta repellat sequi est temporibus reprehenderit suscipit. Vitae consequuntur recusandae veritatis hic vel voluptas dolor.
Illum placeat expedita qui non sed id aut rerum. Aut odio ad vero nulla alias nam commodi. Qui ipsum optio in nihil non nesciunt. Amet temporibus sunt asperiores cumque veniam aut.
Odio suscipit est labore sint laborum occaecati est. Perspiciatis dolor ut in corrupti debitis sunt. Corrupti molestias vel iste est eos ad. Ut quis iure tempore iure magnam ut consequatur.
Eligendi aut voluptatem commodi qui rerum quis id. Illo similique libero voluptatem reiciendis cumque. Officiis ut beatae tempora nostrum dignissimos occaecati. Et saepe provident odio qui quia iure. Quod dignissimos reiciendis natus et corporis autem dignissimos.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...