The Uganda shilling held steady with a bias towards mild appreciation on matched demand and supply amid tight liquidity conditions during the week ending 14th December 2018.
In the interbank shilling market overnight funds traded at 6% while one week funds traded at 9%. The shilling trading range was in the range of 3720/30.
In fixed income market, there was no primary auction. Trading was confined only in the secondary market.
In the region, the Kenya shilling, the currency of Uganda’s key trading partner held its ground supported by strong inflows from Diaspora remittances. Trading was in the range 102.50/70.
In the International currency markets, the US dollar edged higher before a widely expected US interest rate hike but its gains were limited by growing expectations that the Federal Reserve may express a more cautious view on future rate rises. While the pound sterling rebounded from a 20 month low as markets remained optimistic that the UK Prime Minister would survive a no confidence vote on her leadership and salvage a deal for Britain to exit EU.
“Forecast for the shilling indicate range bound trading as the market players square positions ahead of the festive season coupled with larger than usual Diaspora remittances,” says Stephen Kaboyo, an analyst and Managing Director at Alpha Capital Partners.
