- Indian Rupee (INR) holds steady after gains yesterday
- RBI is less aligned over the next move for policy
- US Dollar (USD) rises against major peers
- Fed Chair Powell testifies again
The US Dollar Indian Rupee (USD/INR) exchange rate is modestly higher and falling in the previous session. The pair fell 0.09% yesterday, settling on Wednesday at 81.93. At 16:15 UTC, USD/INR trades +0.01% at 81,94 and trades in a range of 81.87 to 82.08.
The Rupee is showing resilience against a stronger U.S. dollar even as Indian central bank members diverge further on rate hike expectations. Of the six-member monetary policy committee, some external members are arguing that additional hikes could hamper the economic recovery.
The Reserve Bank of India kept its key lending rate steady for a second straight meeting on June 8, as expected but signaled that rates could remain high for some time.
The US Dollar is rising across the board. The US Dollar Index, which measures the greenback versus a basket of major currencies, trades at +0.2% at the time of writing at 102.23, recouping losses from yesterday.
The US dollar is moving higher recouping losses from the previous session. Greenback is rising in a risk off environment, boosted by safe-haven flows as investors digest a series of more hawkish than expected central banks across the globe I should be given the Bank of England and the Norges central bank both raise interest rates by 50 basis points, more than expected. The SNB also hiked rates by 25 basis points.
Netflix becoming the moves came after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell gave a hawkish testimony to Congress yesterday. He told lawmakers that inflation in EU S was still too high and that more interest rate hikes were needed. Today, Powell is testifying again before Congress for a second day.
Powell also said that the Fed’s next move will be guided by data, and inflation data has shown signs of cooling. Labour market is also holding steady with initial jobless claims rising by more than expected 264,000 in line with last week but above forecasts of 260,000.
