By Noah Torres
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The Mexican peso collapsed towards the U.S. greenback as outcomes of the U.S. presidential election started to come back in, extending the streak of volatility that has hit the foreign money and different currencies in current days .
The peso traded as excessive as 20.5260 per dollar, greater than 2% decrease than its closing value at the beginning of the day and its lowest since September 2022.
The peso had hovered across the identical stage throughout common daytime buying and selling on Tuesday earlier than erasing losses later within the session.
Merchants are bracing for extra swings as vote counts from the hotly contested U.S. presidential election arrive.
The peso's weak point was seen by merchants who had been contemplating the chance that Republican Donald Trump might defeat Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Trump has pledged to impose new tariffs on Mexican exports.
A Trump victory might push the foreign money to ranges round 20.50 pesos per greenback, whereas a Harris victory would doubtless push the foreign money to strengthen to round 19 pesos per greenback, in line with consultancy analyst Gerardo Copca MetAnalisis. But when the election result’s contested, volatility would improve, he mentioned.
After Trump's presidential victory in 2016, the peso fell about 8.5% towards the greenback, reaching an all-time low on the time.
Reuters vote tallies present Trump has up to now gained 154 Electoral Faculty votes to Harris' 30. A candidate wants at the least 270 electoral votes to win.
“As this can be a very shut election and the outcomes shall be gradual in coming, we’ll most likely see the fact (of the affect on the peso) in the course of the exchanges in London, tomorrow in america and even throughout the remainder of the week,” mentioned Jorge Gonzalez, who runs the consultancy Asesores en Divisas y Riesgos.
Earlier this 12 months, the worth of Mexico's native foreign money took successful after the ruling Morena occasion, led by left-wing President Claudia Sheinbaum, gained massive majorities in Congress following June's common elections within the second Latin American economic system.
Congressional majorities allowed lawmakers to cross a controversial judicial overhaul in September that prompted jitters in markets, with some traders doubting the protection of their investments in a extra politicized justice system.
U.S. officers, by far Mexico's largest buying and selling associate, have criticized the overhaul.
The peso has misplaced about 20% of its worth for the reason that begin of the 12 months towards the US greenback.
