- USD/INR strengthened due to the release of a widened trade balance from India.
- India's soft inflation in August is putting pressure on the Indian Rupee (INR).
- RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das anticipates inflation to ease starting from September onward.
- US Dollar (USD) experienced losses ahead of the Fed’s interest rate decisions on Wednesday.
USD/INR attempts to continue the winning streak that began on Tuesday, trading higher around 83.10 during the Asian session on Monday. The Indian Rupee (INR) is experiencing downward pressure due to the trade balance figure.
The report indicates that the trade deficit in India expanded to its highest level in 10 months, reaching $24.2 billion in August. This represents an increase from the trade deficit of $20.7 billion recorded in the previous month.
Additionally, the easing inflation in August is also putting pressure on the INR, which came in at 6.83%, compared to 7.44% in the previous month. Additionally, the Core inflation rate stood at 4.9%, aligning with market expectations.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has stated that the central bank anticipates inflation to ease starting from September onward. This suggests that the RBI expects a gradual decline in inflationary pressures, which can have implications for its monetary policy decisions.
Moreover, on Friday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed that India is currently engaged in negotiations with approximately 22 countries to facilitate bilateral trade transactions in the Indian Rupee. This initiative suggests India's efforts to strengthen trade ties and potentially reduce reliance on foreign currencies in international trade.
On the other hand, the US Dollar (USD) is facing downward pressure, likely a result of the downbeat consumer sentiment data from the United States (US) released on Friday. The preliminary US Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index registered a reading of 67.7, reflecting a decrease from the previous figure of 69.5. This reading also came in below the anticipated figure of 69.1 for the month of September.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which assesses the performance of the US Dollar against six other major currencies, concluded its ninth week with an overall gain of 0.26%. Nevertheless, the spot price is hovering around 105.30.
The US Treasury yields have fully reversed their intraday gains, exerting downward pressure on the Greenback. The yield on the US 10-year bond has declined to 4.32%, down by 0.25% at the time of writing.
In the past week, significant economic data from the US has consistently highlighted robust economic conditions. These strong economic indicators provide additional support for the Fed's intention to potentially implement another interest rate hike by the conclusion of 2023.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key measure of inflation, exceeded expectations. Additionally, Retail Sales for the same month and Jobless Claims for the second week of September both yielded positive outcomes, signifying a positive economic outlook for the US.
Market participants will closely watch the Fed’s interest rate decisions scheduled for Wednesday. The Fed is expected to maintain its current interest rates without changes. Furthermore, market participants will carefully scrutinize the central bank's communications, seeking any clues or insights regarding the possible future direction of interest rates.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD accelerates losses to 1.0930 on stronger Dollar
The US Dollar's recovery regains extra impulse sending the US Dollar Index to fresh highs and relegating EUR/USD to navigate the area of daily troughs around 1.0930 in the latter part of Friday's session.

GBP/USD plummets to four-week lows near 1.2850
The US Dollar's rebound keep gathering steam and now sends GBP/USD to the area of multi-week lows in the 1.2850 region amid the broad-based pullback in the risk-associated universe.

Gold trades on the back foot, flirts with $3,000
Gold prices are accelerating their daily decline, steadily approaching the critical $3,000 per troy ounce mark as the Greenback's rebound gains extra momentum and US yields tighten their retracement.

Can Maker break $1,450 hurdle as whales launch buying spree?
Maker holds steadily above $1,250 support as a whale scoops $1.21 million worth of MKR. Addresses with a 100k to 1 million MKR balance now account for 24.27% of Maker’s total supply. Maker battles a bear flag pattern as bulls gather for an epic weekend move.

Strategic implications of “Liberation Day”
Liberation Day in the United States came with extremely protectionist and inward-looking tariff policy aimed at just about all U.S. trading partners. In this report, we outline some of the more strategic implications of Liberation Day and developments we will be paying close attention to going forward.

The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.