Rupee jumps to 4-week high, ends at 95.16 to the dollar
The Indian rupee appreciated by twenty-one paise against the dollar on Monday, surprising traders with the sudden influx related to equity index movements. An early intervention by the Reserve Bank of India solidified the rupee's stronger position...
By ET Bureau |
ANI
Mumbai: The Indian rupee gained 21 paise Monday, helped by equity index-related inflows on the last day of the month. The inflows caught traders by surprise, triggering stop-losses among some and accelerating the currency's rise.
The rupee closed at 95.16 per dollar, compared with 95.37 on Friday and its highest since August 5. The RBI intervened in the early hours of trade, dealers said.
"The MSCI index related inflows triggered stop losses for many traders around 95.20-95.25 levels, so the gains from there were quick. Intervention by the RBI in the offshore market and in the early hours of the trade also caused the rupee to open stronger than expected," said Ritesh Bhansali, deputy CEO, Mecklai Financial Services.
Several Indian stocks were expected to see heightened trading activity Monday as the MSCI rebalancing changes, announced on August 13, were implemented August 31, with the revised weights becoming effective Tuesday. MSCI is also increasing the weights of seven stocks, which is expected to bring additional inflows.
Read more: Why India’s new closing auction is agonising traders: Q&A
The currency traded in the range of 95.10 and 95.50, with a major part of the rally happening in the second half.
A rise in crude oil prices to $91 per barrel from $88 last week was countered by a softer dollar index after the US Fed chair's hawkish comments on Friday, which has prompted markets to factor in a potential US rate hike as early as September.
The currency was expected to open at 95.55-95.60, but opened at 95.42 on Monday, likely due to dollar sales by the Reserve Bank of India. The rupee has weakened 0.3% so far in this financial year.
Dealers also drew comfort from banks working at full steam to garner FCNR(B) deposits on the final day of the scheme, as the inflows would give the RBI more firepower to support the rupee through dollar sales. The central bank has also said it would use part of the resulting liquidity to allow some of its short forward positions to mature.
The rupee closed at 95.16 per dollar, compared with 95.37 on Friday and its highest since August 5. The RBI intervened in the early hours of trade, dealers said.
"The MSCI index related inflows triggered stop losses for many traders around 95.20-95.25 levels, so the gains from there were quick. Intervention by the RBI in the offshore market and in the early hours of the trade also caused the rupee to open stronger than expected," said Ritesh Bhansali, deputy CEO, Mecklai Financial Services.
Several Indian stocks were expected to see heightened trading activity Monday as the MSCI rebalancing changes, announced on August 13, were implemented August 31, with the revised weights becoming effective Tuesday. MSCI is also increasing the weights of seven stocks, which is expected to bring additional inflows.
Read more: Why India’s new closing auction is agonising traders: Q&A
The currency traded in the range of 95.10 and 95.50, with a major part of the rally happening in the second half.
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A rise in crude oil prices to $91 per barrel from $88 last week was countered by a softer dollar index after the US Fed chair's hawkish comments on Friday, which has prompted markets to factor in a potential US rate hike as early as September.
The currency was expected to open at 95.55-95.60, but opened at 95.42 on Monday, likely due to dollar sales by the Reserve Bank of India. The rupee has weakened 0.3% so far in this financial year.
Dealers also drew comfort from banks working at full steam to garner FCNR(B) deposits on the final day of the scheme, as the inflows would give the RBI more firepower to support the rupee through dollar sales. The central bank has also said it would use part of the resulting liquidity to allow some of its short forward positions to mature.
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