Advertisement
Advertisement
Quantitative Easing
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more

Easy come, easy go as emerging markets discover with US Fed tapering

During the financial crisis, the major emerging markets escaped the damage from the United States and European Union relatively unscathed. Not any more. The rout in the capital markets of the emerging economies in the past week is a reminder that many of them face serious problems from heavy government debt to large current account deficits. In a sense, it was a continuation of the mayhem they experienced during last summer, when talks about tapering by the US Federal Reserve were first raised.

During the financial crisis, the major emerging markets escaped the damage from the United States and European Union relatively unscathed. Not any more. The rout in the capital markets of the emerging economies in the past week is a reminder that many of them face serious problems from heavy government debt to large current account deficits. In a sense, it was a continuation of the mayhem they experienced during last summer, when talks about tapering by the US Federal Reserve were first raised.

Ironically, it was unorthodox monetary policy pursued by the Fed, most notably its quantitative easing, to prop up the US economy that has helped sustain the emerging markets by creating a tsunami of liquidity during the crisis. That is why tapering has sent their currencies and equity markets into a tailspin. Now that the tide is turning, some are found to be wanting. Political instability in countries such as Egypt and Thailand does not help matters.

Of course, not all emerging markets are in the same negative category. Indonesia, India and South Korea are in better shape than, say, Argentina or Turkey, which is mired in a political stand-off over corruption.

The plunge in the Argentine peso has been compared to the collapse of the Thai baht in 1997, which triggered the Asian financial crisis. That may be an exaggeration, but there is panic in the air.

Foreign investors take flight at the slightest sign of trouble and do not necessarily distinguish between shaky and worthy emerging markets. Slower growth and mounting debts within the shadow banking system in China have also spooked investors and policymakers.

What is clear is that the Fed, the world's most powerful central bank, will have trouble unwinding its massive bond-buying exercise without causing disruption to the world economy. And the emerging markets are bearing the brunt of that disruptive force.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: US-led stimulus a two-edged sword
Post