The rupee settled at 68.5275 against 69.09 at the previous close. The
local unit moved in 68.5275 -68.9475 per dollar band intra-day.
The Indian rupee surged to a fresh more-than-seven-month high, as
the nation’s trade deficit narrowed sharply and continuous foreign
fund inflows into local equity and bond lifted investor sentiment.
Rupee has seen significant appreciation on back of foreign portfolio
inflows. The appreciation is also helped by dovish Federal reserve
and stable global market environment. We believe these are good
levels for the importers to enter and exporters can panic less as we
might see a reversal in April, if not earlier as we near the elections.
Global Currency
The dollar licked its wounds on Monday after soft U.S. data
increased bets the Federal Reserve will cut rates later this year while
the pound hovered near nine-months high on hopes for a delay in
Britain's exit from the European Union. The dollar's index against a
basket of six major currencies edged down 0.1% to 96.481, after
having shed 0.81% last week, the biggest loss since late August.
The euro hit a two-week high against the dollar in early trading in
Europe Monday, as the greenback continues to suffer from weak
economic data out of the U.S. on Friday that strengthened
expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut later this year.
The euro was at $1.1349, just off a two-week high posted earlier.
Global Markets
Gold prices slipped on Monday in Asia ahead of a Federal Reserve
meeting that is expected to shed more light on the outlook for U.S.
interest rate hikes this year. Gold were down 0.3% at $1,298.65.
Oil prices fell on Monday in Asia after recording their best weekly
gains in a month last week. Brent Oil Futures were down 0.2% to
$67.00 on Monday after recording a gain of approximately 2.1% last
week.