Rupee Gains Ground In Early Trade, Rises 5 Paise To 94.46 Against US Dollar

On Friday, September 4, the Indian rupee displayed a 5-paise gain, settling at 94.46 against the US dollar in early trade, according to the <source>. This rise was attributed to increasing foreign inflows and a strengthened risk appetite. Initially, the rupee opened at 94.53 in the interbank foreign exchange market, before improving to its current value. The rupee had previously closed at 94.51 on Thursday, marking its fifth consecutive session of appreciation.

Market sentiment improved following India's mobilization of a record $127.23 billion through foreign-currency deposits under a special Reserve Bank of India (RBI) programme. This initiative aimed to bolster foreign-exchange liquidity, according to the <source>. In total, when overseas foreign-currency borrowings and external commercial borrowings are included, the inflows under these measures reached $136.377 billion, as per RBI data.

Amit Pabari, Managing Director of CR Forex Advisors, noted that Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) inflows had provided substantial support to the rupee. However, risks persist, notably linked to oil prices and geopolitical developments. The 94.00–94.20 range is expected to provide strong support to the currency. Any adverse news, such as a sharp increase in crude oil prices, could potentially drive the USD-INR pair towards 95.00, 95.50, and eventually 96.00.

The dollar index saw a 0.15% increase, reaching 99.05, as renewed tensions between the US and Iran boosted demand for safe-haven assets, as highlighted by the <source>. Meanwhile, Brent crude futures rose by 0.40% to $95.90 per barrel, driven by concerns about potential disruptions to oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Higher crude prices generally exert pressure on the rupee, as India is a significant importer of energy.

The domestic stock markets also contributed to the rupee's strength, with the Sensex climbing 468.64 points to 76,621.50 and the Nifty rising 42.10 points to 23,915.55. On Thursday, foreign institutional investors invested ₹2,345.87 crore in Indian equities, as reported by exchange data.