Rupee falls 5 paise to 85.53 against U.S. dollar in early trade

Rupee falls against dollar due to demand, fund outflows, and weak equities, with expected continued pressure on currency.

The rupee dropped 5 paise to 85.53 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday (December 30, 2024), as dollar demand from importers, foreign fund outflows and a muted trend in domestic equities dented investor sentiments.

Forex traders said the rupee witnessed heavy volatility on Friday (December 27, 2024) and opened on a weak note on Monday (December 30, 2024) amid significant dollar demand linked to the expiry of December currency futures and maturing positions in the outstanding forwards.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened on a weak note and fell to 85.53 against the American currency, registering a fall of 5 paise over its previous close.

On Friday (December 27, 2024), the rupee registered the steepest fall in almost two years to hit its lifetime intraday low of 85.80 before a suspected central bank intervention helped recover some of its losses and settled 21 paise lower at a record low of 85.48 against the U.S. dollar.

“A significant FII outflow during the third quarter of this fiscal year, coupled with India’s slowing growth and widening trade deficit, is expected to keep the rupee under strain. In the near-term, the USDINR pair is likely to trade within a range of 85.20 to 85.80,” CR Forex Advisors MD-Amit Pabari said.

Traders further said that global markets are expected to see low volumes as the holiday season is underway in major economies like the U.K. and Europe.

“Global markets are bracing for heightened volatility once Donald Trump assumes power. For now, the Dollar Index is expected to hover around its elevated level of 108, while emerging market currencies are likely to remain under pressure in the near-term,” Mr. Pabari said.