DEPRECIATION. Fitch Solutions revises its average Philippine peso-US dollar forecast for 2022-223 as it sees the local unit further weakening against the greenback. It traced its projection partly to expectations of a widening current account deficit. (PNA file photo)
MANILA – Expectations for the further widening of the Philippines’ current account (CA) deficit made Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research forecast for the continued weakening of the local currency for this and next year.
In a commentary released to journalists on Thursday, Fitch Solutions projects the peso to average at PHP54.30 to a US dollar this year and at PHP56.40 next year.
Previously, its 2022 average peso-US dollar forecast is PHP52.30 and the 2023, PHP53.00.
To date, the local unit is trading at the 55-level against the greenback.
“The widening of the Philippines’s current account deficit coupled with tightening global monetary conditions will likely exert further downward pressure on the peso,” the commentary said.
Fitch Solutions now eyes the country’s CA deficit to increase to around 4.3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) from 2.4 percent previously.
Citing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data, it said the country’s CA deficit as of the first quarter of 2022 stands at around 5 percent of the domestic output, higher than the 3.5 percent of the GDP in the last quarter of 2021.
It traced this development to the 27.8-percent year-on-year growth in imports in the first three months this year, higher than the 5.9-percent growth of exports during the same period.
“Over the coming quarters, we expect the current account balance to remain in a deficit due to elevated commodity prices and strong import demand, especially after the government implemented a slew of tariff cuts in an attempt to tame rising prices,” it said.
These tariff reduction measures include the extension until end-2022 of the lower tariff rate for rice imported outside South East Asia, from 40-50 percent to 35 percent; corn, from 35-50 percent to 5-15 percent; pork, from 30-40 percent to 15-25 percent; and the temporary removal of the 7-percent duty on coal.
Relatively, it said tightening the monetary conditions also contributes to the widening of the country’s CA deficit since it weighs on risk sentiments.
“As major central banks around the world turn increasingly hawkish and continue hiking rates aggressively, capital will likely be diverted away from emerging economies such as the Philippines, and into fixed income assets in developed countries which are considered less risky,” it said.
Interest rate differentials will also come to play, it said, citing that investors’ sentiments will favor US assets.
Fitch Solutions forecasts the BSP to hike its key rates by additional 75 basis points until end-2022 to 3.25 percent but the Federal Reserve is seen to announce a more aggressive hike, at around 150 basis points to bring the Fed Funds rate to 3.25 percent.
To date, the BSP’s key rates have been hiked by a total of 50 basis points, 25 basis points each last May and June.
Similarly, Fed rates have jumped by 150 basis points -- 25 basis points last March, 50 basis points last May, and 75 basis points last June.
Both central banks are seen to remain hawkish and announce more rate increases as inflation in their respective countries continues to accelerate.
Fitch Solutions forecasts the domestic rate of price increases to average at 5.1 percent this year while average inflation in the US is seen to be around 6.5 percent.
“The narrowing real interest rate differential between the US and the Philippines will likely lead to hot money outflows,” it said.
For one, inflation in the Philippines has averaged at 4.4 percent in the first half of the year, with the June level rising to 6.1 percent from the previous month‘s 5.4 percent.
The domestic inflation rate surpassed the government’s 2-4 percent target band last April when it rose to 4.9 percent.
While the peso is seen to depreciate further in the coming months, Fitch Solutions said the pace “will likely be relatively gradual as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has ample foreign reserve to intervene in the FX (foreign exchange) market if necessary to soothe downside volatility.”
“Furthermore, the new BSP governor Felipe Medalla has signaled a more hawkish stance, and stated that the central bank is prepared to hike more aggressively to prevent the exchange rate from “overshooting too much,” it said.
For 2023, the commentary forecasts the peso “to trade broadly sideways” against the greenback.
One of the factors seen to support the local currency next year is the easing of foreign ownership restrictions, which is seen to attract more foreign direct investments (FDIs). (PNA)
