USD/INR climbs as equity outflows drag Indian Rupee to all-time low


  • The Indian Rupee trends lower in Friday’s early European session. 
  • The Indian equity selloff and the rise in crude oil prices continue to undermine the INR. 
  • The advanced US November Michigan Consumer Sentiment data and Fed Bowman’s speech will be the highlights on Friday.

The Indian Rupee (INR) weakens on Friday. The local currency depreciated to record lows again in the previous session amid weak domestic equities and sustained foreign fund outflows. Additionally, the rise in crude oil prices also weighed on the INR.

Donald Trump is expected to boost the US Dollar (USD) and push US yields higher, driven by anticipated populist measures that could increase borrowing, inflation, and yields. This, in turn, might contribute to the INR’s downside. However, the downward movement of the local currency might be limited as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to intervene in the market by selling the USD to avoid excess volatility. 

Looking ahead, traders will keep an eye on the advanced US Michigan Consumer Sentiment data for November. Also, the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) Michelle Bowman is scheduled to speak later on Friday.

Daily Digest Market Movers: Indian Rupee remains sensitive to global factors

  • Foreign investors have pulled out more than $1.5 billion from local stocks so far in November, adding to $11 billion of outflows in the previous month.
  • India appears to be in a comparatively stronger position than many of its Asian peers, owing to its lower dependency on trade with China, according to a report by Emkay.
  • The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered its benchmark overnight borrowing rate by 25 basis points (bps) to a target range of 4.50%-4.75% at its November meeting on Thursday. 
  • Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the US central bank is pursuing interest rate cuts, while monetary policy remains tight. Powell further stated that the Fed will continue assessing data to determine the "pace and destination" of interest rates as inflation has slowed nearing the Fed’s 2% target.
  • According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the possibility of a quarter-point December rate reduction rose to more than 68% following the Fed meeting, while the odds of a pause declined to nearly 32%. 
  • The US Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending October 25 increased to 221K, the US Department of Labor (DoL) showed Thursday. This figure matched initial estimates and was higher than the previous reading of 218K (revised from 216K).

Technical Analysis: USD/INR’s broader trends remain constructive

The Indian Rupee trades softer on the day. According to the daily chart, the USD/INR pair remains in a bullish trend as the price holds above the key 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). Nonetheless, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) is over the midline near 75.0, suggesting an overbought condition. This means that additional consolidation should not be ruled out before positioning for any short-term USD/INR appreciation.

A move above the upper boundary of the ascending trend channel at 84.30 could pave the way for the next hurdle at 84.50, followed by the 85.00 psychological level.

On the other hand, a breach of the lower limit of the trend channel and the high of October 11 at the 84.05-84.10 region could draw in selling pressure to 83.82, the 100-day EMA. Further south, the next contention level is seen at 83.46, the low of September 24. 

Fed FAQs

Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.

The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.

In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.

Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.

 

Share: Feed news

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


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

Australian Dollar steady as markets asses minor US data

Australian Dollar steady as markets asses minor US data

The AUD/USD regained positive traction on Thursday following the overnight pullback from a one-week top. A softer US Dollar and a positive risk tone benefited the Aussie, as well as the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) hawkish stance. 

AUD/USD News
EUR/USD: Further losses now look at 1.0450

EUR/USD: Further losses now look at 1.0450

Further strength in the US Dollar kept the price action in the risk-associated assets depressed, sending EUR/USD back to the 1.0460 region for the first time since early October 2023 prior to key releases in the real economy.

EUR/USD News
Gold faces extra upside near term

Gold faces extra upside near term

Gold extends its bullish momentum further above $2,660 on Thursday. XAU/USD rises for the fourth straight day, sponsored by geopolitical risks stemming from the worsening Russia-Ukraine war. Markets await comments from Fed policymakers.

Gold News
Ethereum Price Forecast: ETH open interest surge to all-time high after recent price rally

Ethereum Price Forecast: ETH open interest surge to all-time high after recent price rally

Ethereum (ETH) is trading near $3,350, experiencing an 10% increase on Thursday. This price surge is attributed to strong bullish sentiment among derivatives traders, driving its open interest above $20 billion for the first time. 

Read more
A new horizon: The economic outlook in a new leadership and policy era

A new horizon: The economic outlook in a new leadership and policy era

The economic aftershocks of the COVID pandemic, which have dominated the economic landscape over the past few years, are steadily dissipating. These pandemic-induced economic effects are set to be largely supplanted by economic policy changes that are on the horizon in the United States.

Read more
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures