Indian Rupee: Growth supports INR against US Dollar – Commerzbank

Commerzbank strategists highlight resilient domestic growth, supported by strong industrial production and investment activity ahead of the Q2 GDP release. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expects growth to moderate to 6.7% in FY2026-27 while inflation remains contained at 5.0%. For the Indian Rupee (INR), however, domestic fundamentals are only modestly supportive, with USD/INR likely to remain driven by oil prices, the broader US Dollar and RBI intervention, keeping the pair broadly within a 94–96 range in the near term.

Growth supports INR but caps gains

"The industrial data provide a positive signal ahead of today's Q2 GDP release, with the Bloomberg consensus expecting growth of 7.3% yoy, down from 7.8% in Q1. Investment activity should remain an important support, consistent with the continued double-digit expansion in capital goods production and the government's infrastructure spending. A 7.3% expansion in Q2 will imply around 7.5% growth for H1 2026."

"Overall, growth is expected to remain firm this year despite earlier concerns over the weaker monsoon. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is projecting a moderation to 6.7% for FY2026-2027 compared to 7.7% for the previous fiscal year. RBI expects inflation to be contained for FY2026-2027 at 5.0% compared to 3.0% for the previous fiscal year."

"For INR, the resilient growth backdrop is modestly supportive, particularly as it reduces pressure on RBI to provide additional monetary accommodation. RBI is comfortably in a wait-and-see mode. In the near term, USD/INR is likely to be dominated by oil prices, the broader USD direction, and RBI intervention, rather than domestic growth alone."

"USD/INR remains close to the 95 level, and we could see consolidation between 94-96 in the near term. A stronger-than-expected Q2 GDP print would reinforce the case for RBI to remain on hold and could provide some support to INR, but a sustained appreciation would likely require an easing in oil and geopolitical risks alongside continued foreign capital inflows."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)