Economy

Oil Slump Hurts Currencies From Norway to Brazil as Growth Slows

BloombergBusiness
20/07/2015 19:45
Visualizações: 1237 (0) (0) (0) (0)

Crude oil’s worst run in four months is hurting more than just commodity traders.

Currencies from the Norwegian krone to Brazil’s real are tumbling as investors revise economic growth expectations for petroleum-exporting nations. Mexico’s peso slumped to its weakest since a 1993 revaluation, while the Canadian dollar fell to a six-year low.

“It is oil today,” Greg Anderson, Bank of Montreal’s global head of foreign-exchange strategy, said by phone from New York. “The economies in these countries have slowed down enough that they’re cutting interest rates, so now it’s about that, in addition to commodity-price weakness.”

The Norwegian krone led losses by commodity currencies, sliding 0.6 percent to 8.2236 per dollar as of 2:30 p.m. in New York. Brazil’s real declined 0.2 percent to 3.1955 per dollar, approaching its lowest since March.

Oil fell below $50 a barrel in New York for the first time since April 6. It’s declined for the past three weeks, the longest streak of losses since the period ending March 13.

Rate Cuts

Commodity producers are having a tough time as a glut of supply coincides with declining demand. Prices for resources including crude oil, gold, iron ore and milk have slumped in recent weeks, with a Bloomberg measure of commodity prices declining to its lowest in more than 13 years Monday.

That’s prompted policy makers including those in Norway and most recently Canada to lower interest rates in an attempt to bolster alternative sources of growth.

Canada’s dollar, known as the loonie for the image of the aquatic bird on its C$1 coin, slumped past C$1.30 per dollar for the first time since 2009 last week after the Bank of Canada reduced its benchmark rate to 0.5 percent.

“We have a negative view on the commodity complex,” Mark McCormick, a foreign-exchange strategist at Credit Agricole SA, said by phone from New York. “What we’re seeing here is these currencies are fundamentally overvalued, given the shift in terms of trade.”

Monetary policy in resource-rich nations is diverging from that in the U.S., where the Federal Reserve is moving toward raising rates for the first time since 2006.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, which tracks the greenback versus 10 of it major peers, advanced to its highest level since April 13.

Most Read Today
see see
International
At OTC Houston 2026, Firjan SENAI holds international ed...
04/05/26
Recognition
BRAVA Energia receives top global industry award for Atl...
04/05/26
International
Brazil reaffirms technological leadership at OTC Houston...
04/05/26
Pre-Salt
PPSA closes 2025 with a net profit of R$ 30.1 million
04/05/26
Results
With 5.531 million boe/d, Brazil continues with record o...
04/05/26
International
Brazil reaffirms technological leadership at OTC Houston...
02/05/26
Environment
Brazil appears among world's largest methane emitters in...
30/04/26
PPSA
Federal Government receives R$ 917.32 million from Tupi ...
07/04/26
Study
Brazil increases dependence on thermal power, but lack o...
07/04/26
Permanent Offer
Permanent Production Sharing Offer (OPP): ANP publishes ...
07/04/26
Taxation
Infis Consultoria promotes the 4th Oil & Gas Taxation Se...
07/04/26
Green Hydrogen
Study at RCGI maps regions with the greatest potential f...
07/04/26
iBEM26
Goldwind advances in Bahia with factory in Camaçari and ...
27/03/26
iBEM26
Bahia showcases its bioenergy potential and reinforces i...
27/03/26
iBEM26
ESG practices in the renewable energy sector are highlig...
26/03/26
iBEM26
ABPIP highlights the role of independent producers in en...
26/03/26
iBEM26
Jerônimo Rodrigues highlights Bahia’s potential in the e...
26/03/26
Campos Basin
New oil discovery in the pre-salt of the Campos Basin
26/03/26
Royalties
Royalties: amounts related to January production for con...
26/03/26
iBEM26
iBEM 2026 begins in Salvador with debates on energy secu...
25/03/26
iBEM26
iBEM 2026 brings together specialists and discusses the ...
25/03/26
VEJA MAIS
Newsletter TN

Contact us

We use cookies to ensure you have the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site, we will assume that you agree with our Privacy Policy, terms of use and cookies.