USD/INR gathers strength on concerns over US tariffs, global trade war
- The Indian Rupee weakens in Tuesday’s Asian session.
- Persistent US dollar demand and unabated outflow of foreign funds weigh on the INR.
- Indian and US CPI inflation reports will take center stage on Wednesday.
The Indian Rupee (INR) extends the decline on Tuesday, pressured by strong US Dollar (USD) demand by importers. Maturities in the non-deliverable forwards (NDF) market also exert some selling pressure on the local currency that has been hit by foreign fund sales of local equities since late September. The uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump’s tariff policy might impact emerging market currencies like the INR.
Nonetheless, any significant depreciation of the local currency might be limited due to the foreign exchange intervention from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Furthermore, a decline in crude oil prices might help limit the INR’s losses as India is the world's third-largest oil consumer.
In the absence of top-tier economic data releases from the United States and India on Tuesday, the USD/INR pair will be driven by the Greenback. The Indian and US Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation reports for February will be the highlights on Wednesday.
Indian Rupee edges lower amid portfolio outflows and global factors
- "The rupee weakened because of an increase in dollar demand from oil companies, as Indian companies have started buying oil from the US," a trader at a private bank said.
- Foreign investors have withdrawn almost $15 billion from Indian shares so far this year, putting outflows on track to surpass the record $17 billion registered in 2022. The selloff has wiped out $1.3 trillion from India’s market value.
- Trump declined on Sunday to predict whether the US could face a recession amid stock market concerns about his tariff actions on Mexico, Canada and China.
- The US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) came in weaker than the expectation, rising by 151K in February versus 125K prior (revised from 143K). Meanwhile, the Unemployment Rate ticked higher to 4.1% in February from 4.0% in January.
- Fed Chair Jerome Powell said on Friday that the US central bank can remain patient in adjusting its benchmark interest rate, citing uncertainty around the potential impact of Trump's policies.
- Traders are now pricing in 75 basis points (bps) of cuts from the Fed this year, LSEG data showed, with a rate cut fully priced in for June.
USD/INR retains its bullish bias in the longer term
The Indian Rupee softens on the day. The bullish bias of the USD/INR pair remains intact, with the price holding above the key 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the daily chart. The path of least resistance is to the upside as the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands above the midline near 60.0.
The first upside target for USD/INR emerges at 87.53, the high of February 28. Potential bullish candlesticks above the mentioned level could see a rally to an all-time high near 88.00, en route to 88.50.
In the bearish event, the initial support level is located at 86.86, the low of March 6. Any follow-through selling could attract some selling pressure to 86.48, the low of February 21, followed by 86.14, the low of January 27.
Indian Rupee FAQs
The Indian Rupee (INR) is one of the most sensitive currencies to external factors. The price of Crude Oil (the country is highly dependent on imported Oil), the value of the US Dollar – most trade is conducted in USD – and the level of foreign investment, are all influential. Direct intervention by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in FX markets to keep the exchange rate stable, as well as the level of interest rates set by the RBI, are further major influencing factors on the Rupee.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) actively intervenes in forex markets to maintain a stable exchange rate, to help facilitate trade. In addition, the RBI tries to maintain the inflation rate at its 4% target by adjusting interest rates. Higher interest rates usually strengthen the Rupee. This is due to the role of the ‘carry trade’ in which investors borrow in countries with lower interest rates so as to place their money in countries’ offering relatively higher interest rates and profit from the difference.
Macroeconomic factors that influence the value of the Rupee include inflation, interest rates, the economic growth rate (GDP), the balance of trade, and inflows from foreign investment. A higher growth rate can lead to more overseas investment, pushing up demand for the Rupee. A less negative balance of trade will eventually lead to a stronger Rupee. Higher interest rates, especially real rates (interest rates less inflation) are also positive for the Rupee. A risk-on environment can lead to greater inflows of Foreign Direct and Indirect Investment (FDI and FII), which also benefit the Rupee.
Higher inflation, particularly, if it is comparatively higher than India’s peers, is generally negative for the currency as it reflects devaluation through oversupply. Inflation also increases the cost of exports, leading to more Rupees being sold to purchase foreign imports, which is Rupee-negative. At the same time, higher inflation usually leads to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raising interest rates and this can be positive for the Rupee, due to increased demand from international investors. The opposite effect is true of lower inflation.
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