Strait of Hormuz
By Gustavo Medeiros, Ben Underhill
The Emerging View

The Strait of Hormuz & the Vix shock

Emerging View examines the Strait of Hormuz tail-risk, rising energy prices and supply strains, comparing today’s backdrop with past oil shocks and assessing what the Iran-US conflict could mean for emerging market assets.

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Satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz with white graphic lines representing global shipping lanes and maritime traffic between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
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Market relief as Trump signals progress in Iran negotiations

Trump gave Iran a short Hormuz ultimatum before a brief extension, as Iran hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan. Major central banks held rates with hawkish bias on energy risks, while EM policy diverged amid fuel, trade and election strains.
View across the Strait of Hormuz toward rugged mountains of the Musandam Peninsula in Oman. Small boats rest on the calm water beneath the arid landscape of the northern Arabian Peninsula.
Weekly investor research

Strait of Hormuz disruption enters third week

Oil shock eased as Brent fell back below USD 100, but Hormuz disruption still hit supply and reserves. Brazil retail surprised positively, while Egypt saw record outflows and political strains deepened in Mexico and Brazil.

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Sadly, a more hawkish Fed can’t stop the war in Ukraine

The situation on the ground in Ukraine continues to suggest a protracted war of attrition for longer as gas flows to Europe get disrupted. Gustavo Petro won the presidential race in Colombia but will have to govern with a minority in parliament. Covid...
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Higher inflation and rates almost everywhere

Inflation surprised to the upside in the United States (US) and Europe but remains subdued across Asia and seems to have peaked in South America. Central banks will soon realise that the current level of interest rates and tightening of financial...
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'EM in 10' update - June 2022

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Better market sentiment after good news from China

Equities and fixed income recovered from oversold levels. Russia takes further territory in Donbas as a peace deal remains elusive. Argentina allowed energy companies increasing production to access foreign currency. Brazil inflation was higher than...
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US stocks down, EM stocks up

US stocks and the US dollar underperformed last week as economic activity slows in the US while EM stocks rebounded. China cut lending rates by 20bps. The Ukraine conflict remained at a stalemate as Russia downplayed the importance of Sweden and...
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China’s data weak, but leading indicators more encouraging

Finland and Sweden said they would like to join NATO. China’s economic data was much weaker than expected in April, but higher frequency data improved in May. Brazil’s Petrobras hiked diesel prices despite political pressures. Most Chileans said they...
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No breakthrough on victory day

There was no breakthrough from Russia during victory day and no significant sanctions on Russia following the G7 meeting. Brazil hiked policy rate by 100bps to 12.75%, Czech and Poland hiked 75bps to 5.75% and 5.25% respectively while India hiked 40bps...
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Russia threatens to cut gas supplies to Europe

Russia announced it halted gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria and said it repaid the Eurobonds before the end of the grace period. Brazilian consumer price inflation rose less than expected. The Chinese politburo sent a strong message of support for...
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'EM in 10' update - May 2022

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Emerging market assets underperformed over the first four months of the year as market participants priced in a much more hawkish hiking cycle by the Fed. At the same time, higher interest rates differentials buoyed the greenback lead the US Dollar...
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Better than expected Chinese data, but peace talks stalled in Ukraine

Chinese economic activity was better than expected, but underlying sector data suggests weaker dynamics than meets the eye. Sri Lanka announced the suspension of debt service. Indian inflation surprised to the upside. Indonesian trade surplus rose...
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Russia & Belarus index exclusion post-mortem

This piece reviews the background and impact of the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from the main Emerging Markets (EM) indices as well as the current market conditions and outlook for Russian and Ukrainian bonds.
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Global Manufacturing PMIs play into the stagflation narrative

Global Markit Manufacturing PMI indicators softened, as China underperformed due to targeted lockdowns in Shanghai, notably. The increase in ISM prices paid and the depressed level of supplier delivery times in the US Markit PMI provide further...