INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Continuing its recent momentum against the US dollar, the rupee rose to 66 levels against the US dollar
The rupee jumped to a one-month high of 66.85 against the US dollar, as compared to Friday's close of 67.06
A strong opening in the domestic equity markets also lifted the sentiment
Besides global oil prices and the broad movement of US dollar, the rupee will take cue from this week's RBI monetary policy and rate
decision, to be announced on Wednesday
The rupee had gained a healthy 80 paise over last three days.Here are 5 things to know about US dollar vs rupee trade today:1
Though a majority of economists expect the RBI to keep rates on hold when it announces monetary policy on June 6, some see an outside chance
of a rate hike, according to a Reuters poll
This marks a dramatic shift as just last month, a majority of economists had said the RBI would turn hawkish by December
"In terms of RBI's outlook, we expect a rate hike soon
There's a 50 per cent chance of a rate hike happening in June," said Teresa John, economist at Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities.2
An RBI rate hike could support the rupee, which has fallen sharply this year against the US dollar
A strong March quarter GDP data and rising inflation, amid higher fuel prices, has led to forecast of a faster-than-expected rate hike from
Brent crude prices dipped on Monday, with the rates coming under pressure from record US output and expectations of higher OPEC
(Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) supplies
Global benchmark Brent was down 12 cents, or 0.16 per cent, at $76.67 a barrel
The surge of global crude prices to multi-year highs above $80 had put pressure on the rupee on concerns of higher current account and
Despite the recent pullback, the rupee is down over 4 per cent against the US dollar
Market participants will also follow the monsoon's progress.4
Inflows pertaining to HDFC Bank foreign portfolio investment limit also aided the rupee's pullback against the US dollar, according to forex
advisory firm IFA Global.5
HDFC Bank shares had rallied over 4 per cent on Thursday (May 31) on reports that the window for foreign investors to pick up stake in the
lender would open on Friday (June 1).(With agency inputs)
