Rupee's Real Effective Exchange Rate climbs to 108.14 in Nov: RBI report

The Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) of the rupee increased to 108.14 in November from 107.20 in October, appreciating by 0.9 per cent.

 

The nominal appreciation was strong enough to outweigh the impact of unfavorable price differences, according to a report called ‘Real Effective Exchange Rate and its Implications for India’s Trade Balance’ authored by Reserve Bank of India staffers. The article does not represent the views of the RBI, but that of the authors.

 

REER represents the inflation-adjusted, trade-weighted average value of a currency against its trading partners and it is often used as an indicator of external competitiveness.

 

Emerging market currencies were under pressure in November due to outflows by foreign portfolio investors, a strengthening US dollar and rising US yields. The rupee depreciated by 0.4 per cent month-on-month against the dollar: A modest depreciation compared to other major currencies.

 

Despite heightened global uncertainties, the rupee exhibited the lowest volatility among major currencies.

 

For India, changes in REER have an uneven impact on trade balance. A depreciation improves the trade balance in the short term, while appreciation has a larger impact in the long term, the report said.

 

“Our empirical findings on India suggest an asymmetrical impact of REER movements on India’s trade balance, with REER depreciation impact on trade balance being more than an equivalent REER appreciation in the short-run and vice versa in the long-run,” it said.

 

REER depreciation tends to improve the trade balance as it makes Indian exports more competitive, while appreciation makes them more expensive.

 

Several factors, including productivity differentials, terms of trade, government spending, and net foreign assets, influence REER, the report said.

 

Currency movements, coupled with other global and domestic variables, play a significant role in shaping exports and imports. However, estimating an optimal level for the currency value is challenging due to the constantly changing nature of underlying factors such as macroeconomic indicators and geopolitical uncertainties.