Mexican president does U-turn on central bank job, peso stumbles

By Dave Graham

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s president on Wednesday nominated a woman to run the central bank for the first time after unexpectedly ditching the previous candidate, a move that roiled markets, pushing down the peso currency and stirring uncertainty over monetary policy.

Taking government officials by surprise, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador proposed Victoria Rodriguez, a deputy finance minister, to replace his initial nominee for central bank governor, former finance minister Arturo Herrera.

The shake-up as Mexico battles the highest inflation in 20 years perplexed investors, prompting a sell-off in Mexican assets, analysts said. At one point, the peso currency fell over 2% against the dollar, although it later recouped some losses.

The cost of insuring exposure to Mexico’s sovereign debt edged up to its highest since March as five-year credit default swaps rose 5 basis points to 112 bps, according to IHS Markit data. Spreads to U.S. Treasuries also rose to hit 365 bps, the widest since early October.

Rodriguez, who rose through the ranks of successive Mexico City governments starting when Lopez Obrador was mayor, had kept a low profile in the finance ministry, and some analysts flagged concerns that she would not be independent enough.

“I think that is why the peso is falling out of bed. People are worrying that this is a roundabout way for him (Lopez Obrador) to interfere with the central bank,” said Omotunde Lawal, head of emerging markets corporate debt at Barings.

Lopez Obrador did not set out explicitly what had changed his mind. He said Rodriguez would act with independence, and reiterated his government respected the bank’s autonomy.

Rodriguez, speaking in a brief video address later alongside Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O, said she would fight inflation, uphold the bank’s independence and not touch Mexico’s international reserves if confirmed in the job.

Her nomination must be ratified by the Mexican Senate, which should be a formality due to the government’s majority. The vote would likely be held Tuesday, said Ricardo Monreal, the Senate leader of the ruling party.

‘NO MEDDLING’

When asked if Herrera had done something wrong, Lopez Obrador said no, and explained that he was committed to including women in positions of power. Rodriguez was the best option “given the circumstances,” the president added.

Lopez Obrador, who in the past clashed with the central bank over the use of surpluses accrued from foreign exchange fluctuations, also dismissed the suggestion that his change of heart could be undermining Mexico’s currency.

“There hasn’t been any meddling by the government, by the finance ministry in the Bank of Mexico’s decisions, not once,” he said. “And we won’t do it either.”

Nevertheless, the peso performed significantly worse than other major currencies in Latin America on Wednesday.

Rodriguez is due to replace outgoing governor Alejandro Diaz de Leon, whose term will conclude at the end of 2021.

Lopez Obrador had in June chosen Herrera to head the bank, and though some rumors had begun to circulate that his name could be withdrawn, officials greeted the news with surprise on Tuesday when a senior lawmaker announced the change of plan.

Rodriguez is primed to join the bank at a challenging time, with data showing inflation had accelerated faster than expected in early November to 7.05%, its highest level since April 2001.

(Reporting by Dave Graham; Additional reporting by Miguel Angel Gutierrez and Sharay Angulo in Mexico City, Karin Strohecker in London and Rodrigo Campos in New York; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel, Alistair Bell and Sonya Hepinstall)