Top forecaster stays bullish on Indian Rupee, Southeast Asia currencies

Alvin Tan, head of Asia currency strategy at RBC Capital Markets, says biggest risks for Asian currencies are a more hawkish Federal Reserve.

Currencies in India and Southeast Asia will rebound in the second half of the year, as the quickening pace of coronavirus vaccinations boosts their economic recoveries, according to the region’s top forecaster.
 

“I am more positive on South and Southeast Asian currencies than their North Asian peers,” said Alvin Tan, head of Asia currency strategy at RBC Capital Markets LLC, which topped Bloomberg’s ranking for Asia ex-Japan currencies last quarter. “There’s more room for positive surprises, particularly in Southeast Asia. The vaccination progress will be a very key component of that.”

Currencies in Southeast Asia and