Core Insights - India's currency market is under significant pressure, with the rupee hitting an all-time low against the U.S. dollar just before Republic Day 2026, raising concerns about the equity market and ETFs holding Indian equities [1][3] - The MSCI India Index has underperformed, rising only 2.2% in U.S. dollar terms in 2025, compared to a 29.9% increase in MSCI Emerging Markets [2] - The rupee's depreciation presents a paradox for ETF investors, as it may attract foreign investment but also increases volatility and risk [4] Economic Context - The decline of the rupee is attributed to massive capital outflows, with nearly $18 billion withdrawn from Indian equities in 2025, and an additional $846 million in early 2026 as investors sought safer assets [7] - Geopolitical tensions, particularly related to U.S.-India trade negotiations and global market uncertainties, have negatively impacted investor sentiment [8] - India's trade deficit has widened to over $25 billion, driven by rising energy and electronics import costs, further pressuring the rupee [9] Market Outlook - Analysts maintain a cautious outlook for the rupee in 2026, warning of potential further declines if geopolitical tensions persist or if the Federal Reserve maintains high interest rates [10] - Despite currency struggles, the IMF has upgraded India's 2026 growth outlook to 6.4%, indicating strong underlying economic productivity [12] ETF Performance - The WisdomTree India Earnings Fund (EPI) has total assets of $2.58 billion and has risen 2.4% over the past year, with top holdings including Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank [14] - The Franklin FTSE India ETF (FLIN), with assets of $2.75 billion, has also gained 2.4% over the past year, focusing on large and mid-cap companies [15] - The First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF (NFTY) has total assets of $160.9 million and has risen 3.5% over the past year, providing exposure to the largest Indian securities [16]

Currency Performance - Ethiopian birr is facing further losses due to debt restructuring [1] - Steep depreciation has made the birr one of the world's worst-performing currencies this year [1]

Energy Markets - The global oil market is experiencing significant challenges, with Brent crude prices struggling to remain above $70 per barrel due to a persistent supply glut and subdued global demand [2][8] - The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts Brent crude prices to decline to an average of $59 per barrel in Q4 2025 and around $51 per barrel in early 2026, driven by large oil inventory builds as OPEC+ increases production by approximately 547,000 barrels per day starting September 2025 [2] - China's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports are expected to decline for the eleventh consecutive month, with a year-to-date drop of 22% in 2025 and a 30% decrease in the first four months compared to 2024, primarily due to weak industrial demand and increased domestic gas production [3] Currency Movements and Central Bank Actions - The USD/JPY exchange rate has seen a significant drop of 0.6% to 148.61, with the Japanese Yen weakening 1.26% over the past month and 3.64% over the last year, driven by divergent economic performances between the US and Japan [4][8] - The Riksbank in Sweden has cut its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points to 1.75% to stimulate the weak economy, marking the eighth rate reduction since spring last year [5] Corporate Strategies - Verisure, a Switzerland-based security services company, is targeting a valuation of up to €13.9 billion (approximately $16.29 billion) in its planned IPO on Nasdaq Stockholm, aiming to raise €3.1 billion (around $3.7 billion) by selling new shares [6][8] - AstraZeneca plans a direct listing of its ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange, maintaining its primary listing in London, to attract a broader global investor base while investing $50 billion in the US over the next five years [7][8] Global Developments - Russia and Vietnam are strengthening energy ties, with new projects expected to begin in January 2026 and a memorandum of understanding signed for cooperation on Vietnam's first nuclear power plant [9] - China's Communist Party will hold its fourth plenary session from October 20 to 23 to deliberate on the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, which is closely monitored for its implications on China's economic rebalancing and geopolitical strategy [10]

Economic Fundamentals - Currency depreciation causes include economic fundamentals and inflation [1] Impact on Trade and Investment - Currency depreciation potentially impacts exports and investor confidence [1]