The Uganda shilling held steady, deriving support from substantial inflows mainly from commodity exporters during the week ending 20th September 2019.
Trading was in the range
of 3665/3675. In the interbank shilling markets, both overnight and one week
rates held at the previous week’s level of 7% and 10% respectively.
In the fixed income space, there was no primary auction. Trading activity was
confined to the secondary market. Announcement for upcoming auction was made
with 220 billion on offer.
In the regional currencies, the Kenya shilling was firm on account of portfolio
flows. These flows helped to soak pressure from excess liquidity in the market.
The shilling was quoted at 103.75/95.
In the global markets, the US dollar gained ground against the major currencies
after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point as
expected but gave uncertain outlook on future easing.
In cutting rates for the second time this year the Fed gave a nod to ongoing
global risks and weakened business environment. But new projections showed
policy makers at median expected rates to stay within the new range through
2020.
In the UK, the pound and government bond yields fell as the Bank of England
kept rates on hold but for the first time detailed the damage from a further
Brexit delay.
“Forecast for the shilling indicates the shilling will likely continue to
display high stability, with a chance of testing new highs as supply of forex
surpasses the market demand in the last full trading week of the month,” says
Stephen Kaboyo, an analyst and Managing Director at Alpha Capital Partners.
