Monday, October 22, 2018

INR update: RBI intervention could result in tighter range



The bounce in EURUSD on Friday ensured a closing above 1.15 and USD index closing below 200 week moving average  again, indicates that Euro stays in the range of 1.1450 and 1.1750 for now. The dollar index could break higher only when it is clearer that the incumbent Republicans retain both the houses in the November mid terms. Till then the dollar index could stay in established price ranges even though the US 10Y is at 3.2% on the back of the latest tax cuts for middle income groups in the US.

The RBI sold $5.1bn in the week following its monetary policy where it surprised the markets by retaining benchmark rates. This shows that action resulted in commitment to ensure that Rupee doesn’t depreciate further on the back of the monetary policy decision. The move has helped drive away reckless USDINR longs from the market. On the other hand the sharp sell side intervention will also ensure that RBI would buy aggressively at lower levels like 73 to 73.25 as the erosion in Reserves for this year has already been significant above $40bn. This should result in USDINR trading in a narrow and well defined range of 73.25-73.75 until global dollar or oil cues provide new insights.

USDINR 1m NDF is trading 4p left like Friday while FPI outflows have abated. Oil trades below 80 levels while other EM currencies have mildly appreciated since Friday. Indian equities continue to exhibit selling pressure as they pared early gains. CMP 73.25, Range 73.20-73.40.


No comments:

Post a Comment