Hawkish Fed triggers emerging market outflows in September

Kitco Media
By Reuters
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Reuters
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LONDON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Foreign investors pulled $26.3 billion out of emerging market stocks and bonds in September, the first ​monthly outflow since June, as a hawkish ‌US Federal Reserve drove up yields and the dollar, a report by the Institute of International Finance showed.

Non-resident investors pulled $7 ​billion from emerging market fixed income last ​month, the first net outflows since March when ⁠the escalating Middle East conflict roiled global markets.

Emerging markets ​came under pressure in September after the Fed under ​President Kevin Warsh raised rates for the first time since 2023 and signalled inflation remained a concern. The move sent ​US Treasury yields sharply higher, lifted the dollar ​and saw investors pull back from some riskier assets.

"The pressure built ‌in ⁠the second half of the month, as hard currency bond funds turned to outflows in the week of the FOMC decision and EM dollar credit spreads ​widened," the ​report found.

"Looking ⁠ahead, a hawkish Warsh Fed that projects further hikes, a BoJ (Bank of Japan) ​at its highest policy rate since 1995 ​and ⁠broad tightening across advanced economies all raise the hurdle for EM carry into the fourth quarter," it added.

Meanwhile ⁠heavy ​foreign selling of South Korean stocks ​drove a $19.2 billion outflow from emerging market equities in September, the ​IIF found.

Reporting by Karin Strohecker; Editing by Andrew Heavens

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