- Indian Rupee (INR) snaps three day losing streak
- India industrial production in focus
- US Dollar (USD) edges higher after selling off post CPI data
- US consumer confidence up next
The US Dollar Indian Rupee (USD/INR) exchange rate is holding steady on Friday after three straight days of gains. The pair settled +0.12% on Thursday at 73.07. At 11:00 UTC, USD/INR trades -0.02% lower at 73.05.
The Indian Rupee is showing resilience versus the stronger US Dollar as domestic equities rally. The Indian stock market closed at record highs on Friday , rising for a fourth straight session as more states eased pandemic restrictions. Hopes of a strong economic revival in India are building again which is underpinning the demand for Indian assets such as stocks and the Rupee.
Looking ahead Indian industrial production data will be in focus. Analysts expect to see a 120% increase year on year in April. The huge jump is expected as production pretty much ground to a halt this time last year when covid took hold.
The weekly foreign exchange reserves data will also likely attract some focus.
The US Dollar is trading lower versus the Rupee. However, it is trading firmly versus its major peers. The US Dollar Index, which measures the greenback versus a basket of major currencies trades +0.1% at the time of writing at 90.20.
The US Dollar is edging higher as investors continue to digest the higher than expected inflation data released yesterday. Inflation, as measured by CPI rose to 5% year on year. This was up from the shock 4.2% in April and ahead of the 4.8% forecast.
Yet despite the surge in inflation, the markets saw sufficient evidence of one off factors lifting inflation to believed the Fed that the spike in inflation is temporary. US bond yields fell to 1.44% around a 3 year low and interest rate hike bets eased.
Attention is now turning to the US consumer confidence release. Analysts are expecting consumer morale to tick higher as the vaccination rollout continues and the economy continues firing up.
