After an unsteady year in 2014, capital flows into emerging markets (EMs) are likely to remain volatile this year, a QNB report has shown. Significant adjustments to global financial conditions in 2014 included a large drop in commodity prices, the end of Quantitative Easing (QE) in the US and a stronger dollar. Looking ahead, these developments, particularly the drop in crude oil prices, will lead to significant divergence in EM performance, adding to risks in specific countries such as Nigeria, Russia and Venezuela.
“Therefore, we project EM flows to remain volatile in 2015, particularly as a possible increase in US policy rates by the Federal Reserve (Fed) may attract flows into the US while EM growth continues to slow and commodity prices remain low,” it said.
Towards the end of 2013 and in early 2014, capital flows into EMs subsided as the implementation of QE tapering in the US led to tighter global liquidity. In mid-2014, EM capital inflows recovered, though they slowed down again in the second half of the year ($86bn compared with $131bn in the first half of the year, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF).
The end of QE in the US led to another bout of EM capital flight, weakening exchange rates and prompting some countries to increase interest rates. In turn, this weakened the growth outlook for EMs and led to greater global risk aversion. Finally, a number of EMs have high levels of dollar-denominated debt, which is becoming more burdensome with the stronger dollar.
Throughout 2014, there was significant EM differentiation between those markets that have been able to take the necessary measures to reduce their current account deficits and stabilise their currencies (notably India and Indonesia) and those that are still struggling to contain the loss of confidence in their economies (Brazil, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Turkey and Ukraine). Much of the loss of confidence in the latter group has been driven by lower global commodity prices, primarily crude oil.
In December 2014, there was a net outflow of both debt and equity capital from EMs of $11.1bn (the largest outflow since the announcement of QE tapering in May 2013). Global risk aversion rose amidst an intensification of the Russian crisis, the further slide in oil prices, which raised concern about a global Great Deflation (see our commentary dated 25 January 2015), and the re-emergence of the risk of Greek sovereign debt default.
Looking ahead, EM differentiation is expected to be a key theme in 2015. A critical issue will be how vulnerable EMs that heavily depend on capital inflows and have high external debt levels will be affected by the continued rise in the US dollar as well as the expected increase in short-term interest rates in the US. Although there is much uncertainty around the timeline for Fed interest rate tightening, the downside risks with respect to EM capital outflows are clear. Should the Fed tighten at a faster than expected pace, this could have a further destabilising impact on capital flows to EMs.
Oil prices will be a key differentiating factor in 2015. Lower oil prices are likely to be supportive of oil importing EMs but less beneficial for oil exporting EMs. In broad terms, oil importers should see their current account balances improve and inflation lowered, leaving more room for monetary stimulus. Meanwhile, oil exporters are faced with deteriorating external balances combined with fiscal pressures as oil revenues subside. On balance, the biggest winners will be those EMs with high levels of oil imports and high inflation, such as India, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey.
In contrast, large oil exporters with deteriorating fiscal balances and weak macro policy frameworks are in a less favourable position, primarily Nigeria, Russia and Venezuela, which, in the worst case scenario, may be pushed into a balance of payments crisis, QNB said.
QNB expects 2015 to be another volatile year for capital flows into selected EM markets, with a number of risks facing the global economy. The strong US dollar coupled with the expected US monetary policy normalisation this year is likely to put further pressure on capital flows to vulnerable EMs and increase deflationary pressures. As a result, the report said additional exchange rate weakness, higher interest rates, weak growth and financial market instability can be expected in selected EMs.