The Mexican peso strengthened toward 17.7 per US dollar as a broad decline in global bond yields and a weaker greenback offered relief to emerging market assets ahead of several key central bank decisions. The recovery is being driven largely by a sharp narrowing of the dollar’s safe-haven premium, after allies such as Japan and Australia declined to join a US-led maritime coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a reduced risk of immediate regional escalation.
Domestically, the peso is underpinned by solid fundamentals, including a 3.25% interest-rate differential with the US, after Mexico’s annual inflation accelerated to 4.02% in February, surpassing the central bank’s upper tolerance band for the first time in eight months. Persistent price pressures—led by a 9.88% jump in agricultural costs—have effectively removed the prospect of a rate cut in March and strengthened expectations that the Bank of Mexico will maintain a hawkish pause.
