Unstoppable Dollar Risks Worsening $71 Billion Asia Stock Exodus

U.S. dollars banknotes at the Ninja Money Exchange, operated by Interbank HD, in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, Japan, on June 9. Photo: Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) — The dollar’s relentless rise is threatening to trigger more outflows from Asia’s emerging-market shares, spoiling hopes of the region making a comeback in the second half.

A gauge of Asian currencies has slumped to its lowest in more than two years, an ominous sign for equities given their strong relationship with moves in foreign exchange. The MSCI Asia ex-Japan Index has fallen 20% as foreign investors took $71 billion out of stock markets in emerging Asia outside China so far this year, already double the outflows in 2021.