Rupee hits nearly two-month high of 86.54 on softer US dollar: Is the domestic currency poised for further gains? | Stock Market News

INR vs USD Today: The rupee appreciated for the third consecutive session and registered gains of 26 paise to close at 86.55 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday, amid positive domestic equity markets and a weak American currency.

Forex traders said the US dollar declined on disappointing economic data from the US. Moreover, the strength of the Asian currencies also supported the rupee. However, a surge in crude oil prices capped the gains.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee witnessed high volatility. It opened at 86.71 then touched the intraday high of 86.54 and the low of 86.78 against the greenback.

The unit ended the session at 86.55 (provisional) against the dollar, registering a gain of 26 paise from its previous closing level.

On Monday, the rupee had appreciated 24 paise to close at 86.81 against the US dollar. On Thursday, the rupee surged 17 paise to settle at 87.05 against the US dollar.

This is the third straight session of gain for the rupee, during which it has added 67 paise.

“We expect the rupee to trade with a positive bias on positive global equities and weak American currency. However, rising crude oil prices and FII outflows may cap sharp upside. Traders may take cues from industrial production and housing sector data from the US,” said Anuj Choudhary – Research Analyst at Mirae Asset Sharekhan.

Investors may remain cautious ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, Choudhary said, adding that the USD-INR spot price is expected to trade in a range of 86.3 to 86.80.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.04 per cent lower at 103.32.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 1.31 per cent to USD 72 per barrel in futures trade. On the domestic macroeconomic front, India’s trade deficit fell to a three-and-half-year low but the point of concern was exports contracting sharply, Bhansali said, adding that imports too witnessed the most significant decline in 20 months driven largely by a fall in oil imports and gold imports.

Additionally, US President Donald Trump’s plan to impose broad reciprocal tariffs and sector-specific trade restrictions on April 2 could create further pressure on the rupee, traders said.

In the domestic equity market, the 30-share BSE Sensex surged 1,131.31 points, or 1.53 per cent, to settle at 75,301.26, while the Nifty advanced 325.55 points, or 1.45 per cent, to close at 22,834.30 points.

At least three large foreign banks sold dollars, helping lift the rupee, a trader at a mid-sized private bank said. Bids by state-run banks, however, kept a lid on further gains, traders said.

The rupee has strengthened for four consecutive sessions and is up about 0.8% so far this month, aided by a broadly weaker greenback, an uptick in exporter dollar sales and modest inflows.

Meanwhile, the dollar index eased nearly 0.2% to 103.3 and Asian currencies were largely rangebound.

Weak U.S. economic data, coupled with uncertainty about the inflationary impact of President Donald Trump’s trade policies have weighed on the dollar in recent weeks.

The US Federal Reserve’s policy decision and interest rate trajectory will be closely watched on Wednesday to gauge its assessment of policy changes under the Trump administration.

While the U.S. economic data calendar is relatively light on Tuesday, the focus will be on any developments from a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine.