- Indian Rupee (INR) slips as MPC minutes support accommodative stance.
- India GDP data due on Friday
- US Dollar (USD) rises on inflation expectations.
- US Fed Chair Powell to testify before Congress.
The US Dollar Indian Rupee (USD/INR) exchange rate is moving higher on Tuesday snapping a four day losing streak. The pair settled -0.15% on Monday, settling at 72.44. At 11:15 UTC, USD/INR trades +0.15% at 72.55.
The minutes from the latest Reserve Bank of India monetary policy meeting revealed that policymakers consider that continuing policy support is necessary. The central bank considers that moderate inflation and a stable near-term outlook mean that monetary policy can remain accommodative to support a broad based economic recovery.
The governor of the Reserve Bank of India Shaktikanta Das highlighted that whilst early growth was demand driven, indicators suggest that growth is being driven by a rise in activity across manufacturing and services. He considers that growth is recovering and gaining momentum.
India’s GDP data will be released on Friday.
The US Dollar is trading higher versus the Rupee and versus its major peers. The US Dollar Index, which gauges the greenback versus a basket of major peers trades +0.15% at the time of writing after picking up from a near 6 week low in the Asian session.
US Dollar investors are looking ahead to US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s two day semi-annual testimony before Congress. Jerome Powell’s appearance comes as inflation expectations have been on the rise over recent sessions on the back of economic recovery optimism. The yield on the US 10 year treasury yields rallied to 1.40% its highest level since the start of the pandemic.
Analysts are expecting Fed Reserve Chair Powell to provide assurance that the Fed will not respond with an immediate rate hike to the rising inflation expectations. This stance could drag on demand for the US Dollar.
Federal Chair Jerome Powell is in a tough position where he needs to express confidence in the recovery without putting so much emphasis that it sends bond yields even higher.
