• Indian Rupee (INR) falls for a 3rd day
  • India’s trade deficit widens
  • US Dollar (USD) falls versus major peers as inflation cools
  • US retail sales are due

The US Dollar Indian Rupee (USD/INR) exchange rate is rising for a third straight session.  The pair rose +0.12% yesterday, settling on Tuesday at 81.06. Today, at 10:30 USD/INR trades +0.33% at 81.32, trading in a range between 81.10 to 81.57.

The Rupee is weakening amid strong dollar demand from importers both in terms of cash and forward rates.

India’s trade deficit widened in October to $26.91 billion from $25.71 billion in the previous month. Exports fell to $29.78 billion from $35.45 billion, while imports declined to $56.69 billion from $61.16 billion. The trade slump could be considered a warning of the rising global growth headwinds.

Indian domestic equities remain steady as gains in banks and the IT sector overshadowed worries over the deteriorating geopolitical picture. Meanwhile, oil prices are edging lower, trading down around 3% so far this week.

The US Dollar is rising versus the Rupee but falling versus its major peers. The US Dollar Index, which measures the greenback versus a basket of major currencies, trades at -0.2% at the time of writing at 106.17 after falling 0.24% in the previous session.

The US dollar is extending losses after giving back earlier gains. News that a Russian missile had landed in Poland sparked a safe haven response, briefly sending the USD higher. However, after a NATO meeting, the early assumption is that the rocket wasn’t fired from Russia. The nervous market mood could limit losses in the USD.

The USD has traded under pressure recently amid growing signs that US inflation is starting to slow. Last week both headline and core CPI fell, and yesterday wholesale inflation (PPI) also fell by more than expected.

Today, US retail sales data is in focus and is expected to show that the US consumer remained strong in October. Sales are forecast to rise 1%, after coming in flat in September.