Morgan Stanley makes ‘Multi-Year Call’ for strong euro

A pushback against the populist movements that have threatened to destabilize the European Union will help bolster the euro for years, according to Andrew Sheets, chief cross-asset strategist at Morgan Stanley.

The U.S. investment bank raised its forecasts for the shared currency on Thursday, projecting it would reach $1.25 early next year, and trade one-for-one against the pound for the first time.

The common currency has soared 12 percent against the dollar this year amid improving economic growth and as fears of a populist revolt against the European Union diminished when pro-establishment politicians won elections in France and the Netherlands. A vote in Germany next month is giving more cause for optimism as polls suggest German Chancellor Angela Merkel will comfortably win a fourth term.

Increasing demand from pension and insurance funds from Switzerland and Japan will add fresh momentum to the year’s best performing Group-of-10 currency in the coming months, as investors scale back hedges and increase positions in euro- denominated assets, Morgan Stanley strategists including Hans Redeker wrote in a research note published Thursday.

Meanwhile, the bank is bearish on the pound, and not only because of its bullish outlook for the euro. It reckons sterling is poised for another downward march amid weak growth, low inflation-adjusted yields and increased political uncertainty as it exits the European Union.

Source: Bloomberg Pro Terminal

Jr Trader Ivan Ivanov

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