USD/INR is expected to open flat as mildly firmer US front-end yields support the dollar, while persistent RBI offers around 90.70–90.80 cap upside and keep the pair range-bound.
Summary:
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USD/INR seen opening largely flat around 90.66–90.70, with push-pull forces intact.
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Mild hawkish repricing in the US (front-end yields firmer) is supporting the dollar.
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Dollar index nudged up to 97.20, with most Asian FX softer.
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Upside in USD/INR capped by recurring RBI offers around 90.70–90.80 in recent sessions.
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Near-term bias: range trade unless US yields extend or RBI steps back.
The Indian rupee looks set for another steady open, with USD/INR expected to begin the session largely flat around 90.66–90.70, as mild US yield support for the dollar runs into persistent supply from the Reserve Bank of India.
The external driver remains a gentle lift in the US front end. The two-year US yield rose about 3bp on Tuesday and the dollar index edged higher to 97.20, leaving most Asian currencies on the back foot. The move reflects a small, slightly hawkish repricing of the Federal Reserve outlook following comments from senior Fed official Barr that policy is likely to remain on hold for some time, a nuance markets interpreted as reducing near-term easing urgency and keeping front-end rates supported.
For USD/INR, that combination typically tilts the balance toward a firmer dollar bias at the margin, particularly when broader regional FX is soft. But the local overlay continues to dominate day-to-day price action. Traders have repeatedly seen the RBI on the offer around 90.70–90.80 in recent sessions, effectively turning that zone into a near-term cap and reinforcing a contained range.
The net result is a market that is struggling to build momentum in either direction. Higher US yields can keep USD/INR underpinned on dips, but the RBI’s recurring supply blunts upside follow-through and encourages mean reversion. In practice, that often produces “grind higher, fade higher” behaviour, with rallies meeting offers and pullbacks attracting dollar demand as long as the US rate backdrop remains supportive.
Looking ahead, the near-term break points are straightforward. A renewed push higher in US front-end yields or a broader dollar leg-up would test the top of the range again. Conversely, any easing in US yields or improved risk tone across Asia would likely pressure USD/INR lower, but sustained downside would be harder to achieve if the RBI remains active in smoothing moves.
Until one of those forces changes materially, USD/INR still looks geared toward a controlled, RBI-managed range rather than a directional trend.
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.