Mexican Peso struggles amid domestic turmoil and teetering USD

Mexican Peso grapples with losses amidst Mexico government's unexpected airport tariff changes, plummeting to a six-month low.
Consumer Confidence in Mexico aligns with estimates yet reveals a subtle pessimistic shift among households.
Mixed US data and a narrowing Trade deficit contrast with the Peso’s struggles, as USD/MXN hovers around 18.25.

Mexican Peso (MXN) finished its Thursday session with losses for the third time in the week against the US Dollar (USD) amidst a broad weakness for the buck. Still, news from Mexico weighed on the emerging market currency. At the time of writing, the USD/MXN is trading at 18.26, set to test the psychological 18.50 mark on Friday.

Summarizing developments during the day, the Mexican economic docket featured Consumer Confidence, aligned with estimates, but households turned slightly pessimistic about the economy. Overnight news revealed that the Mexican government aviation agency revealed changes on airport tariffs, sparking volatility in the Mexican Stock Exchange and exacerbating the Mexican Peso’s fall to a new six-month low, with the USD/MXN hitting 18.37.

Across the border, US data was mixed, with unemployment claims coming slightly below estimates but exceeding the week ending on September 23. the US Balance of Trade deficit narrowed in August compared to July’s data.

Daily Digest Market Movers: Mexican Peso to remain on the defensive, as the USD/MXN exchange rate oscillates around 18.25

Mexico’s government to shift airport fees, spurring a plunge in the Mexican Stock Exchange.
Consumer Confidence in Mexico came at 46.7 in September, unchanged from August.
US Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending on September 30 advanced to 207,000, above the previous week’s 205,000, but trailed forecasts of 210,000.
The US Balance of Trade showed a narrower deficit of $58.3 billion, below the $62.3 billion of the consensus and July’s $64.7 billion.
US Exports rose by $256 billion, exceeding the previous reading of $251.9 billion.
US Imports decreased to $314.3 billion from $316.6 in July.
On Wednesday, the IMF raised Mexico’s growth projection in 2023 from 2.6% to 3.2% and from 1.5% foreseen in July to 2.1% for 2024.
US ADP Employment figures came at 89,000, below forecasts of 153,000 ahead of Friday's official government Nonfarm Payrolls report.
US ISM Services PMI came at 53.6, as foreseen by analysts, though moderately slowed down.
Banxico’s September poll amongst economists reported that interest rates are expected to remain at 11.25% while inflation would dip to 4.66%.
The same poll shows the exchange rate is set to finish at around 17.64, down from 17.75.
Mexico’s S&P Global Manufacturing PMI for September came at 49.8, sliding to contractionary territory and below August’s 51.2, as the economy loses steam.
The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) held rates at 11.25% in September and revised its inflation projections from 3.5% to 3.87% for 2024, above the central bank’s 3% target (plus or minus 1%).
Banxico’s Government Board highlighted Mexico’s economic resilience and the strong labor market as the main drivers to keep inflation at the current interest rate level.

Technical Analysis: Mexican peso is set to challenge 18.50 in the near term

The daily chart shows that the Mexican Peso is set to extend its losses on Thursday. With the USD/MXN exchange rate hovering above the weekly high of 18.20, a decisive break above the April 5 high at around 18.40, the pair could extend its uptrend towards the April 2018 yearly low of 18.60. With those levels cleared, the next stop would be the March 24 high at 18.79, followed by the psychological 19.00 figure.

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