The rupee staged a spirited recovery after slipping below the 96 level intraday and settled higher by 2 paise at 95.89 against the US dollar on Thursday on heavy dollar selling by banks, snapping its seven-day falling streak. The local currency breached the 96 level to hit a low of 96.10 to a dollar in day trade after a 25 basis point rate hike by the US Federal Reserve, sustained foreign fund outflows from stock markets and high crude oil rates. Forex traders said that dollar selling by banks on behalf of the RBI helped the local unit recoup losses and hit a high of 95.78 to a dollar. A slight correction in the dollar index and crude oil prices also supported investor sentiment despite global geopolitical volatility, they added. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened higher at 95.88 but soon reversed gains and hit the intraday low of 96.10, breaching the 96 level for the first time since July 24. The unit recovered during the session and touched the high of 95.
Global uncertainty and interest rates may remain elevated
Experts said that the key point is not the size of the increase, but the change in direction, and expect the RBI to consider 50bps hikes in both the October and December policy meetings this year
The US president renewed his push for cheaper credit after the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to a 3.75-4% target range
Trump said the US should have the lowest interest rates in the world, days before the Federal Reserve's policy meeting amid persistent inflation
3 decisions, starting with the Federal Reserve on Wednesday and followed on successive days by peers in the UK and Japan, may recast the global monetary policy landscape for rest of 2026 and beyond
Kevin Warsh faces a tough choice on September rates as persistent inflation pressures clash with market expectations and Donald Trump's push for lower borrowing costs
A familiar script plays out regularly with the government fighting rupee depreciation
Warsh used a keynote speech to hammer home a message that curbing inflation is the central bank's top priority
Economists estimate the monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday will show a 55,000 increase in payrolls after an unexpected dip in July employment
Markets expect the Fed will raise rates in December as inflation remains elevated, while a sharp rise in bond yields indicates that investors are also pricing in some chance of a September move
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is under pressure to offer clearer guidance on interest rates and inflation at Jackson Hole, as investors assess sticky price pressures and the outlook for monetary policy
The White House has asked Cook to respond within three weeks to mortgage-fraud allegations that her lawyer called baseless, according to a report by ABC News on Friday
Warsh, who took over as Fed chair in May, has said he has "no tolerance" for inflation that has remained above the central bank's 2 per cent target for more than five years
Experts advise investors to avoid aggressive buying and accumulate gold and silver gradually on dips as Fed policy uncertainty keeps precious metal prices volatile
Asian chipmakers have been the centre of attention this week after a deep selloff in South Korean stocks that wiped more than $2 trillion from the country's equity market rocked markets
Keeping rates unchanged would leave the Fed's policy options open while giving officials more time to see how the economy is evolving
The Federal Reserve, Bank of England and Bank of Japan face key policy decisions as rising oil prices, inflation risks and tariffs cloud the global economic outlook
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh said President Donald Trump has not tried to influence monetary policy and reaffirmed his commitment to the central bank's independence
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said inflation risks now outweigh labour market concerns and signalled she is prepared to act if disinflation does not resume soon