Rupee to trade in narrowest range in about 30 years on RBI’s actions

By Anant Chandak

BENGALURU (Reuters) -The Indian rupee will trade within the narrowest range in nearly three decades over the coming year as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) continues to maintain its tight grip on the currency’s movements, according to a Reuters poll.

While most emerging market currencies fared badly against the dollar in the past two years, the rupee has stayed remarkably stable due to the RBI’s nearly $650 billion forex reserves which it has deployed regularly to curb volatility.

The currency’s implied volatility, hovering at its lowest level in nearly two decades, is expected to hold ground at least until the year-end, the July 1-3 Reuters poll of 40 foreign exchange strategists found.

Median forecasts showed the rupee would trade at 83.41 per dollar by end-September, and by end-2024 the currency would touch 83.20, around the level it was trading on Wednesday.

The rupee was forecast to gain 0.6% to 83.00 per dollar in a year.

“The rupee continues to be dominated by the RBI’s steadfast focus on curbing volatility, limiting any impact of portfolio flows or changes in fundamental outlook,” said Abhay Gupta, emerging Asia fixed income and forex strategist at BofA Securities.

“Despite the short-term benefits, too much of a good thing can have its side-effects. The RBI may have gone overboard in containing volatility by driving it to levels that are well-below the historical ranges for rupee and are comparable with a pegged currency.”

Analysis showed the standard deviation of forecasts for the six-month outlook was around the lowest in at least two years, suggesting the RBI will only allow the rupee to trade in a tight range.

Still, a handful of FX strategists expected the currency to reach a lifetime low by this time next year.

“With the Fed being a late entrant in the global monetary easing cycle, the dollar could likely remain supported. Against this backdrop, we expect the rupee to post a modest weakness in 2024-25,” said Vivek Kumar, economist at QuantEco Research.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Tuesday the U.S. is back on a “disinflationary path”, but cautioned that inflation may not reach the 2% target until late next year or even 2026.

“Although the rupee might continue to weaken, the magnitude is not going to be concerning,” QuantEco’s Kumar said.

He expected the rupee to weaken to a fresh low of 84.50 per dollar by end-2024.

(For other stories from the July Reuters foreign exchange poll:)

This post is originally published on INVESTING.

  • Related Posts

    Oil falls after Trump reverses Colombia sanctions threat

    By Anna Hirtenstein LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices wavered on Monday after the U.S. and Colombia reached a deal on deportations, reducing immediate concern over oil supply disruptions but keeping traders…

    Dollar gains on tariffs fears; euro looks to ECB meeting

    Investing.com – The US dollar slipped lower Monday, rebounding after recent losses as attention returned to the potential for trade tariffs from the Trump administration at the start of a…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    CySEC Tightens Oversight: AI, Crypto, and Fin-Fluencers Face Tougher Scrutiny

    • February 12, 2025
    CySEC Tightens Oversight: AI, Crypto, and Fin-Fluencers Face Tougher Scrutiny

    Day Trading vs. Long-Term Investing: Which is Better for You?

    • February 12, 2025
    Day Trading vs. Long-Term Investing: Which is Better for You?

    Thailand’s Border Blackout Forces Scam Gangs to Free 261 Captives: Report

    • February 12, 2025
    Thailand’s Border Blackout Forces Scam Gangs to Free 261 Captives: Report

    Apple (AAPL) Stock Forecast for 2025, 2026, 2027–2030 and Beyond

    • February 12, 2025
    Apple (AAPL) Stock Forecast for 2025, 2026, 2027–2030 and Beyond

    If You’re a Night Owl, Firstrade 24/7 Stock Trading May Be for You

    • February 12, 2025
    If You’re a Night Owl, Firstrade 24/7 Stock Trading May Be for You

    eToro Expands UK Offerings With New DIY Investment Option for Individual Saving Accounts

    • February 12, 2025
    eToro Expands UK Offerings With New DIY Investment Option for Individual Saving Accounts