- Indian Rupee (INR) falls for a second day
- Oil prices rise to $110 per barrel
- The US Dollar (USD) is rising versus its major peers
- The Fed is expected to leave rates unchanged.
The US dollar-to-Indian rupee (USD/INR) exchange rate is rising for a second day. The pair rose 0.37% in the previous day, settling on Tuesday at 94.54. At 18:30 UTC on Wednesday, the pair is up 0.32% to 94.85 and trades between 94.54 and 94.85.
The Indian rupee is falling for a second straight day. A government report noted that India’s economy remains resilient, although it faces mounting risks from the Middle East conflict, particularly around energy supply, fertilisers, and industrial raw materials.
The monthly report highlighted domestic resilience against external turbulence. The government still views the economy as a relative bright spot, with the International Monetary Fund raising its 2026–27 growth forecast to 6.5% from 6.4%.
However, high oil prices remain a key risk. With Brent above $110 per barrel, this is negative for India, which imports around 90% of its energy needs.
The US dollar is rising across the board. The US Dollar Index, which measures the currency against a basket of major peers, is up 0.17% at 98.81, marking a second day of gains.
The dollar is also gaining ahead of the Federal Reserve interest rate decision later today.
The Fed is widely expected to leave rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%, so attention will be on Jerome Powell’s press conference, potentially his last before handing over to Kevin Warsh.
Powell may acknowledge the resilience of the US labour market and rising inflation expectations driven by higher energy prices. His tone will be key for the US dollar and broader financial markets. A more hawkish stance, emphasising inflation risks—currently around 3%—could support the dollar further.
The market will also be watching to see whether pal remains on the Board of Governors which he could do until 2028 or whether he steps away completely from the Federal Reserve.
