The Mexican Peso made gains against the US Dollar as the Greenback weakened after strong US Retail Sales data. The US Retail Sales surged by 1.0% in July, exceeding expectations and reassuring investors about the health of the US economy. This led to a decrease in bets of a double rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September. Mexico’s central bank, Banxico, recently cut interest rates but is keeping a firm stance amidst rising inflation figures.
Banxico is closely monitoring inflation figures and core inflation metrics, which slowed to 4.05% in July. The central bank expects core inflation to reach its target of 3% by Q4 2025. Deputy Governor Omar Mejia highlighted the importance of considering various data points in making decisions about interest rates. Despite the economic slowdown in Mexico, Banxico believes that a rate cut was necessary. Retail Sales in the US surged, causing the Greenback to weaken and boosting the Peso.
The Mexican Peso has been gaining ground against the US Dollar for the past seven trading days, easing down from its recent high in early August. With the US Dollar moving lower, the Peso has room to continue its upward trend. The main factors that influence the value of the Mexican Peso include the performance of the Mexican economy, the central bank’s policies, foreign investments in the country, remittances from abroad, and geopolitical trends. Oil prices and nearshoring decisions also impact the Mexican Peso.
Banxico’s primary objective is to maintain inflation at low and stable levels. The central bank adjusts interest rates based on inflation levels to control the economy. Higher interest rates are positive for the Mexican Peso as they attract investors seeking higher yields. Strong macroeconomic data contributes to the strength of the Mexican Peso by attracting foreign investment and potentially leading to interest rate hikes. On the other hand, weak economic data can lead to a depreciation of the Mexican Peso.
As an emerging market currency, the Mexican Peso performs well during risk-on periods when market risks are low, and investors are willing to take higher risks. During times of market turbulence or economic uncertainty, the Mexican Peso tends to weaken as investors seek refuge in safer assets. The performance of the Mexican Peso is closely tied to global market sentiment and economic conditions.Overall, the Mexican Peso has shown strength against the US Dollar in recent days, supported by positive economic data and market sentiment.