Birr appreciates slightly amid central bank stabilization efforts, after ranking third weakest in 2025

Following its ranking as the third weakest global currency in 2025, the Ethiopian birr has shown a slight appreciation against major currencies, driven by National Bank of Ethiopia interventions to stabilize the foreign exchange market.

Building on its challenging 2025 performance—with over 15% depreciation against the US dollar and a third-place ranking among weakest currencies per Bloomberg—the Ethiopian birr has begun a gradual strengthening. The National Bank of Ethiopia's targeted actions have calmed the foreign exchange market, fostering stability and preventing sharp fluctuations, as reported by Addis Fortune.

This shift signals broader monetary policy adjustments amid ongoing economic pressures, including debt restructuring efforts. While no specific appreciation figures were provided, the development boosts market confidence and underscores the central bank's pivotal role in navigating Ethiopia's financial uncertainties.

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Photorealistic image of rupiah weakening on forex board amid US-Iran geopolitical tensions and BI stability pledge, with traders and global symbols.
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BI highlights geopolitical escalation as cause of rupiah weakening

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Bank Indonesia (BI) reveals that the rupiah's weakening against the US dollar stems from global pressures, including geopolitical escalation and US President Donald Trump's tariff threats related to Iran. The rupiah closed at 16,860 per US dollar on January 13, 2026, depreciating 1.04 percent year-to-date. BI reaffirms its commitment to maintaining stability through market interventions.

One month after initial appreciation driven by central bank efforts, the Ethiopian birr continues to hold steady, with commercial banks aligning their strategies to support currency resilience, according to Addis Fortune.

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Ethiopia's birr has recorded the third weakest performance among global currencies tracked by Bloomberg in 2025, trailing only the Argentine peso and the Turkish lira.

Ethiopia's National Bank has raised reserve requirements for banks and eliminated the minimum savings rate to control inflation and manage excess liquidity. These measures were approved by the Monetary Policy Committee on December 29, 2025. The actions aim to support a shift toward single-digit inflation targets.

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According to S&P Global Ratings, Kenya is among African countries facing debt pressures that could weaken local currencies. External debt repayments across the continent are set to exceed USD 90 billion in 2026. This surge may intensify pressure on the Kenyan shilling, currently trading at around Ksh129 per US dollar.

Building on its 3.8% gain in the first 14 days of January, the Colombian peso has appreciated further by 4.5% over the first 22 days, maintaining its top position among emerging currencies. New international factors like Donald Trump's Greenland comments and a national pension decree bolster the trend, with the Chilean peso (3.8%) and Russian ruble (3.79%) trailing.

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Building on December 24's verbal intervention that spurred a sharp rebound, the Korean won still ranked fifth weakest among 42 major currencies in Q4 2025 with a 3.3 percent drop against the USD. Persistent foreign outflows and overseas investments continue to weigh on the currency.

 

 

 

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