• Indian Rupee (INR) strengthens on foreign fund inflows
  • Domestic equities surge & oil slips lower
  • US Dollar (USD) rises versus major peers
  • US fiscal stimulus talks in focus

The US Dollar Indian Rupee (USD/INR) exchange rate is trending lower on Tuesday paring gains from the previous session. The pair settled +0.1% higher on Monday at 73.82. At 11:15 UTC, USD/INR trades -0.32% at 73.59, towards the lower end of the daily traded range.

The Rupee is surging higher supported by foreign fund inflows and heavy buying into domestic equities, as investors ignore the broad risk off theme across the global financial markets.

Risk off sentiment was driving global equities lower as investors moved out of risker assets and into the safe haven US Dollar. US equity market futures are trading -0.4% at the time of writing reflecting the risk off mood.

However, demand for Indian equities has risen regardless. The Sensex closed +0.4% higher on the day, whilst the Nifty 50 also closed +0.3% higher, both at all-time highs.

Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in the capital markets boosting demand for the Rupee.

Meanwhile falling oil prices were also offering support to the currency. Oil prices are extending losses from Monday as tighter lockdown restrictions, particularly in California, fuel concerns over near term demand.

The safe haven US Dollar is slipping versus the Indian Rupee, but it was trading higher versus its major peers. The US Dollar Index which tracks the greenback versus a basket of six major peers trades +0.05% higher at the time of writing.

The US economic calendar is quiet today with no high impacting US data due to be released. Instead eyes will be firmly on US additional fiscal stimulus negotiations.

US Congress is expected to vote this week on a stopgap funding measure. This will then allow lawmakers more time to negotiate an emergency covid rescue package. Currently a rescue package in the region of $900 billion is being discussed. There appears to be support from both sides of the aisle in Congress.