Rupee extends winning streak for 4th straight session as US dollar, oil ease and stocks rally
The rupee ended 0.1% higher at 95.0550 per dollar. The currency has risen 2% so far this week after coming near record low levels last week.
The Indian rupee experienced its fourth consecutive day of strength on Thursday, bolstered by a weaker US dollar, falling oil prices, a surge in Indian stocks, and a potential central bank intervention. The currency closed 0.1% higher at 95.0550 per US dollar, marking a 2% increase this week after nearing record lows last week. Brent crude oil prices dropped following potential US measures to ease restrictions on Russia’s "shadow fleet" tankers, although supply concerns persisted due to conflicts in the Middle East and between Ukraine and Russia.
Indian stocks outperformed regional benchmarks, with a 2% gain despite setbacks for South Korean and Japanese indexes, which fell between 8% and 2% over AI-related debt concerns. Analysts warned that a further sell-off in AI-related stocks could weaken the dollar. The dollar index fell from an 18-month high amid lower Treasury yields, signaling a lessening of expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike this month.
Forward premiums for the dollar-rupee pair surged to multi-year highs, reflecting the central bank's foreign exchange intervention and the strain on India's forex reserves, which have utilized nearly half of the $140 billion mobilized earlier this year. Merchandise trade deficit data for September stood at $30.21 billion, aligning with economists' expectations of $30.4 billion.
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