USD/INR steadies as RBI intervention looms
- USD/INR appreciates due to weak Asian risk sentiment and flow pressures.
- The Indian Rupee recorded a 92.51 low on Wednesday, pressured by NDF-related dollar buying.
- The INR faces added pressure from higher dollar demand linked to bullion imports and persistent equity outflows.
USD/INR rebounded after modest losses in the previous session, driven by weak Asian risk sentiment and flow pressures. Traders note the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) remains a key backstop against a move beyond the psychological 92.00 level.
The Indian Rupee (INR) hit a record of 92.51 against the US Dollar (USD) on Wednesday, weighed down by dollar buying linked to NDF maturities and a chronic demand–supply imbalance.
The INR faces additional pressure due to higher dollar demand tied to bullion imports, persistent equity outflows, and rising depreciation expectations, while slow exporter hedging continued to limit dollar supply.
Most economists polled by Reuters expect the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to keep its key policy rate at 5.25% through 2026, as the central bank evaluates the economic impact of previous interest rate cuts.
US Dollar gains on a strong dollar policy
- The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar against six major currencies, has recovered its recent losses from the previous session and is trading around 96.50 at the time of writing.
- Bloomberg reported late Thursday that US President Donald Trump said that he will announce his choice to replace Jerome Powell as the chair of the Federal Reserve (Fed) on Friday morning. Trump said that his pick will do a "good job" and that he wants the US central bank to cut rates when there are signs of economic growth.
- The Greenback found support after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reaffirmed the US commitment to a “strong dollar policy,” pushing back against earlier comments from US President Donald Trump that suggested tolerance for a weaker currency. Bessent stressed that solid US fundamentals and sound policy settings should continue to draw capital inflows, rejecting speculation of any US intervention to sell dollars against the Japanese Yen (JPY).
- The US Federal Reserve (Fed) decided to keep interest rates unchanged at its January meeting on Wednesday, pointing to still-elevated inflation and resilient economic growth.
- Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted during the post-meeting press conference that job gains have moderated and the unemployment rate has shown signs of stabilization, adding that the Fed is “well positioned” to assess incoming data on a meeting-by-meeting basis and remains off a preset path for future rate decisions.
- Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note that further policy easing largely hinges on clear evidence of disinflation, which they expect to emerge later in 2026. As a result, they maintain their forecast for rate cuts in June and September.
- US President Donald Trump would soon announce his nominee to replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell, fueling speculation that the next chair could favor faster interest rate cuts.
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has agreed to immediately cut duties on select vehicles priced above EUR 15,000, with rates set to gradually fall to 10%, easing market access for automakers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW.
USD/INR hovers around 92.00 amid persistent bullish momentum
USD/INR is trading around 92.10 at the time of writing. Daily chart analysis points to a sustained bullish bias, with the pair remaining within an ascending channel pattern. However, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 69.72 sits just below the overbought threshold, confirming firm bullish momentum.
The nine-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) stands above the 50-day EMA, with the short-term average rising and maintaining upside pressure. The expanding separation between them supports a continuation of the trend.
The initial resistance is seen at the January 28 all-time high of 92.51. A break above this level would support the USD/INR pair to approach the upper boundary of the ascending channel near 93.60. On the downside, the immediate support lies at the lower channel support around 92.00, followed by the nine-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 91.71. Further declines would expose the 50-day EMA at 90.46.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
US Dollar Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Australian Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | INR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.36% | 0.40% | 0.49% | 0.21% | 0.69% | 0.49% | 0.04% | |
| EUR | -0.36% | 0.04% | 0.15% | -0.15% | 0.34% | 0.13% | -0.32% | |
| GBP | -0.40% | -0.04% | 0.11% | -0.18% | 0.29% | 0.09% | -0.37% | |
| JPY | -0.49% | -0.15% | -0.11% | -0.27% | 0.19% | -0.01% | -0.43% | |
| CAD | -0.21% | 0.15% | 0.18% | 0.27% | 0.46% | 0.27% | -0.18% | |
| AUD | -0.69% | -0.34% | -0.29% | -0.19% | -0.46% | -0.19% | -0.63% | |
| NZD | -0.49% | -0.13% | -0.09% | 0.00% | -0.27% | 0.19% | -0.46% | |
| INR | -0.04% | 0.32% | 0.37% | 0.43% | 0.18% | 0.63% | 0.46% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).
RBI FAQs
The role of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its own words, is "..to maintain price stability while keeping in mind the objective of growth.” This involves maintaining the inflation rate at a stable 4% level primarily using the tool of interest rates. The RBI also maintains the exchange rate at a level that will not cause excess volatility and problems for exporters and importers, since India’s economy is heavily reliant on foreign trade, especially Oil.
The RBI formally meets at six bi-monthly meetings a year to discuss its monetary policy and, if necessary, adjust interest rates. When inflation is too high (above its 4% target), the RBI will normally raise interest rates to deter borrowing and spending, which can support the Rupee (INR). If inflation falls too far below target, the RBI might cut rates to encourage more lending, which can be negative for INR.
Due to the importance of trade to the economy, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) actively intervenes in FX markets to maintain the exchange rate within a limited range. It does this to ensure Indian importers and exporters are not exposed to unnecessary currency risk during periods of FX volatility. The RBI buys and sells Rupees in the spot market at key levels, and uses derivatives to hedge its positions.
Author
Akhtar Faruqui
FXStreet
Akhtar Faruqui is a Forex Analyst based in New Delhi, India. With a keen eye for market trends and a passion for dissecting complex financial dynamics, he is dedicated to delivering accurate and insightful Forex news and analysis.
