Currency

The value and volume of banknotes in circulation increased by 6.0 per cent and 5.6 per cent, respectively, during 2024-25

China is stepping up efforts to boost the yuan's global role as President Xi Jinping calls for wider use of the currency in trade, investment and foreign exchange markets

Reserves rise to a fresh peak after 17 months, aided by higher gold prices and revaluation gains, even as the rupee remains under pressure amid FPI outflows

Trade deal with US could reverse the fortune of the Indian currency

The rupee has been buffeted by equity outflows, with a record $19 billion last year and a further $2.9 billion this month amid valuation concerns, steep US tariffs and delays in a trade deal

China is shifting from dollar rivalry to creating a parallel, sanction-proof financial system through RMB trade settlement, digital currencies and deeper integration with global capital markets

The rupee fell up to 91.06 per dollar during the day, near the record low of 91.08 per dollar

India will host the summit, which will be held later this year. If the recommendation is accepted, a proposal to link the digital currencies of Brics members would be put forward for the first time

Heavy importer demand and maturing NDF positions pushed the rupee to its steepest one-day fall in two months, even as RBI dollar sales capped deeper losses

The rupee's depreciation is often seen as an opportunity - but this narrative overlooks its impact on borrowers of foreign-currency debt

If these are the three challenges, there are also three key developments that everyone will watch out for

A dwindling ​interest rate difference between the US and other economies has cast a shadow over the currency market, resulting in most currencies gaining sharply against the dollar in 2025

The currency repeatedly fell to record lows during the year, slipping past the 91 level at one point, highlighting the sustained depreciation pressure

The Indian rupee has hit a fresh record low, crossing 91 against the US dollar for the first time. With the currency weakening steadily despite gains in other Asian currencies

A key reason is the Reserve Bank of India's $64 billion short-dollar position - a pledge to supply large amounts of dollars in the future through derivatives contracts with lenders

Nearly 10 years after high-denomination notes were banned, Nepal plans to allow Indian notes above ₹100, easing travel for workers, students, pilgrims and tourists, and smoothing trade

The seeds of the Fragile-Five debacle were sown by the Reserve Bank of India buckling under political pressure and cutting rates in 2012 amid soaring fiscal deficits and untamed inflation

By signaling tolerance for a weaker rupee, RBI is indicating that it will intervene mostly to curb sharp volatility or on any signs of a speculative build-up but not defend any specific level on rupee

On Tuesday, the rupee had already touched 89.9475 before ending the day at 89.87 - a decline of nearly 0.4 per cent

Indian Rupee touched a new record low of 89.97 against the US dollar on December 1, 2025, amid delays in the India-US trade agreement, and limited RBI intervention