- Indian Rupee (INR) rises as COVID numbers improve
- Falling oil prices offer support
- US Dollar (USD) hovers around 16 month high after strong retail sales
- Fed speakers in focus
The US Dollar Indian Rupee (USD/INR) exchange rate is heading lower on Wednesday snapping a three-day winning run. The pair gained +0.1% on Tuesday settling at 74.45. At 10:00 UTC, USD/INR trades -0.17% at 74.32.
The Indian Rupee is rebounding after three days of losses. The Rupee is rising as COVID numbers continue improve. USD inflows and expected RBI intervention weaken the USD/INR uptrend.
Domestic equities are providing little in the way of direction as shares are little changed on the day. Losses in pharmaceuticals and metal stocks were being offset by gains in auto, energy and banking sectors. The Sensex trades down -0.2% at the time of writing and the Nifty 50 down -0.3%.
Oil prices are offering support to the Rupee, as West Texas Intermediate extends falls from the previous session. Crude oil prices are coming under pressure amid concerns that the Biden administration could release emergency reserves to lower petrol prices at the pumps.
The US Dollar is trading lower versus the Rupee but is holding steady versus major peers. The US Dollar Index, which measures the greenback versus a basket of major currencies trades -0.01% at the time of writing at 95.89 after rising for the past three consecutive sessions.
The US Dollar is hovering around a 16 month higher amid rising expectations that the Fed could move to raise interest rates sooner than initially expected. Yesterday retail sales data showed that sales rose for the third straight month in October, surging 1.7% to the highest level in 6 months. Americans are spending despite prices soaring higher at the quickest pace in 3 decades and despite consumer sentiment falling to the lowest level in a decade.
Attention will now turn towards Fed speakers. Federal Reserve officials Williams, Daly and Waller are all due to speak and could shed more light on when the Fed could consider raising interest rates.
