Mexican Peso hits four-week high on hawkish Banxico remarks

• Mexican Peso climbs sharply as USD/MXN surpasses 2023 low of 16.62.
• Banxico's Deputy Governor Irene Espinosa's comments on rate cuts support Peso's rally.
• US inflation data sparks speculation of Fed rate cuts,with futures market indicating 41 bps reduction by year-end.

The Mexican Peso continues to record gains versus the US Dollar, refreshing its four-week high as the rally continued. In an interview, Bank of Mexico (Banxico) Deputy Governor Irene Espinosa was hawkish, boosting the Mexican currency. Meanwhile, US inflation data revealed during the week was mixed, though it reignited speculation that the Federal Reserve (Fed) would lower interest rates in September. The USD/MXN trades at 16.61, below the 2023 low of 16.62.

Mexico’s economic docket featured Banxico’s Deputy Governor Espinosa, who said the March rate cut was premature and would delay inflation’s convergence to the bank’s target. “The monetary restriction that was needed to maintain convergence (of inflation to the target) within the horizon that we had planned was reduced,” Espinosa said.

In the meantime, US inflation resumed its downtrend after stalling for six months, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The core Consumer Price Index (CPI) ebbed lower from 3.8% to 3.6% YoY in April, easing pressure on the Fed.

After the data, US equities rallied to new all-time highs, while the Greenback tumbled sharply, following the path of US Treasury yields. According to the fed funds rate December 2024 futures contract, expectations that the Fed would lower rates jumped from 36 basis points (bps) to 41 bps toward the end of the year.

Data from the CME FedWatch Tool shows odds for a 25 bps rate cut at the September meeting remain at 83%, lower than Thursday’s 87%.

Data-wise, the US Conference Board revealed the Leading Economic Index continued to fall in April. “Another decline in the U.S. LEI confirms that softer economic conditions lay ahead,” said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, senior manager of business cycle indicators at The Conference Board.

Daily digest market movers: Mexican Peso surges amid Espinosa’s hawkish stance

• Banxico is beginning to split among its members. Governor Victoria Rodriguez Ceja said on Monday that the bank would discuss lowering rates in the upcoming meeting on June 29. Deputy Governor Espinosa commented that lowering rates in March might have delayed inflation convergence toward the central bank’s target by two quarters.
• Mexico’s economic docket next is expected to release Retail Sales on May 20, followed by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inflation figures and Banxico’s minutes on May 23.
• April's data show that Mexico’s headline inflation is reaccelerating. However, core prices are falling. This spurred Banxico’s revision to its inflation projections, with the bank expected to hit its 3% target toward the last quarter of 2025, later than March’s estimates for Q2 2025. Core inflation is projected to hit 3% in Q2 2025.
• The CB Leading Index decreased by 0.6% in April to 101.8 (2016=100) after diminishing by 0.3% in March. Over the six-month period between October 2023 and April 2024, the LEI contracted by 1.9% — a smaller decrease than its 3.5% decline over the previous six months.
• The US jobs market continues to slow down after the Nonfarm Payrolls report for April. This, along with the last two Initial Jobless Claims reports, suggests the labor market is cooling, helping the Fed to curb inflation.
• Investors have become optimistic that the Fed may cut rates this year after US inflation data showed the downtrend is resuming, while Retail Sales remained unchanged.
• Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin stated that inflation is coming down, but that it will “take more time” to hit the Fed’s target.

Technical analysis: Mexican Peso climbs sharply as USD/MXN falls below 2023 low

The USD/MXN downtrend continues even though buyers pushed the exchange rate past close to the 50-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) near 16.77. Momentum favors Mexican Peso holders as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains in bearish territory, aiming downwards.

If USD/MXN extends its losses beneath the psychological 16.50 figure, that could open the door to test the current year-to-date low of 16.25.

Conversely, if buyers reclaim the 50-day SMA at 16.78, it could exacerbate a rally toward the 100-day SMA at 16.92. Once cleared, the next supply zone would be the 17.00 psychological level. In that event, the next stop would be the 200-day SMA at 17.17.