- Pakistan Rupee (PKR) eases after strengthening last week
- Pakistan CPI declines mom in December
- US Dollar (USD) trends lower versus major peers in risk on trading
- US manufacturing PMI in focus
The US Dollar Pakistan Rupee (USD/PKR) exchange rate is advancing mildly on Monday after falling in the last few days of 2020. At 11:15 UTC, USD/PKR trades +0.3% at 160.37 adding to gains of 0.6% across the month of December.
Inflation in Pakistan finally showed signs of easing in December after months of rising higher. Inflation in December declined -0.68% month on month, marking the first fall since April 2020. On an annual basis inflation stood at 8%, meanwhile the 6 month average (July – December) was 8.9%.
Food inflation is finally cooling. Food inflation, particularly rural food prices had been keeping consumer prices elevated. As supply chains continue to improve, prices are starting to ease.
Oil prices are on the rise. WTI trades over 2% higher ahead of the OPEC+ meeting later today. The OPEC group is expected to keep output capped at the meeting today after raising output by 500,000 barrels per day in December.
The US Dollar is pushing higher versus the Rupee. However, it is on the backfoot versus its major peers. The US Dollar Index is currently trading -0.5% at a fresh multi-year lows. It was the weakest major currency in 2020 and the greenback appears to be kicking off 2021 in a similar fashion. The US Dollar Index shed 7% across the previous year marking its first annual loss since 2017.
The US Dollar is weakening today owing to an upbeat mood in the global financial markets as vaccine optimism overshadows surging covid cases. Rising risk appetite is reflected in the stronger equity markets. S&P futures are trading +0.5%.
US manufacturing PMI figures will be in focus later today, the Senate vote in Georgia is tomorrow, minutes from the latest Fed meeting are due to be released on Wednesday and US non-farm payrolls data on Friday. This week is set to be a busy week for the US Dollar.
