USD/INR hits highest since Dec. 17, eyes 100-day MA hurdle

USD/INR has hit 7-week highs and could rise further on India's fiscal concerns and oil rally.
A break above 100-day MA could yield a sustained move toward 72.50.

Omkar Godbole FXStreet Contributor

The USD/INR is currently trading at71.67 - the highest level since Dec. 17 - and could soon test the 100-day moving average (MA) lined up at 71.80.

The Indian unit is on the defensive possibly due to India's fiscal concerns. The Indian government delivered a populist budget last week, which is seen widening its fiscal deficit targets for the current and next financial year. Ratings agency Moody's has said that the nation's inability to meet fiscal deficit target for four consecutive years as a big "credit negative".

Meanwhile, crude prices have closed last week at the highest level since mid-November and are seen rising further on tightening supplies. That could add to the bearish pressure around the rupee.

Further, the US non-farm payrolls data for January bettered estimates by a big margin, helping the dollar regain some poise against majors. The greenback could pick up a strong bid later in the week if the fourth quarter unit labor cost prints well above estimates, forcing markets to reassess Fed's recent dovish turn.

All-in-all, the USD/INR looks set to test the 100-day MA lined up near 71.80. A break higher would open up upside toward 72.55 (Dec. 10 high).

Technical Levels

USD/INR

Overview:
    Today Last Price: 71.685
    Today Daily change: 0.2100 pips
    Today Daily change %: 0.29%
    Today Daily Open: 71.475
Trends:
    Daily SMA20: 70.8916
    Daily SMA50: 70.7085
    Daily SMA100: 71.7996
    Daily SMA200: 70.2777
Levels:
    Previous Daily High: 71.615
    Previous Daily Low: 70.915
    Previous Weekly High: 71.64
    Previous Weekly Low: 70.82
    Previous Monthly High: 71.64
    Previous Monthly Low: 69.185
    Daily Fibonacci 38.2%: 71.3476
    Daily Fibonacci 61.8%: 71.1824
    Daily Pivot Point S1: 71.055
    Daily Pivot Point S2: 70.635
    Daily Pivot Point S3: 70.355
    Daily Pivot Point R1: 71.755
    Daily Pivot Point R2: 72.035
    Daily Pivot Point R3: 72.455

Author

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

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