Indian rupee eyes higher open with Fed rate cut odds rising and RBI lurking

MUMBAI: The Indian rupee is set to find relief at the open on Tuesday, helped by growing expectations of a December Federal Reserve rate cut and likely continued central bank support.

The 1-month non-deliverable forward indicated the rupee will open in the 89.06-89.10 range versus the U.S. dollar, having settled at 89.23 on Monday.

After allowing the rupee to slice through the heavily defended 88.80 level on Friday, the RBI demonstrated on Monday that it would not tolerate much further weakness.

Bankers said the central bank stepped in before the market opened, sending an early signal that Friday’s price action would not be allowed to snowball.

“Monday felt like a message. The RBI will not allow the market a free run beyond 88.80,” said a currency trader at a private bank.

“They were in early and made sure the tone changed to an extent at least.”

The reassertion of the central bank’s presence on Monday reminded traders that while the RBI may occasionally let the rupee decline, it remains firmly opposed to rapid depreciation.

Dipti Chitale, CEO at FX advisory firm Mecklai Financial, said that after the RBI’s intervention she expects the rupee to firm up in December and push back past the 89 handle.

FED rate cut boost

Odds of a Fed rate cut this month climbed to nearly 85% after a series of dovish policy remarks. The job market is soft enough to warrant another quarter-point cut in December, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said on Monday.

His comments echoed those of influential New York Fed President John Williams, who signalled that U.S. interest rates could fall further without putting the Fed’s inflation goal at risk.

A week back the probability of Fed rate cut was closer to 40%, per CME FedWatch Tool.