spot_img

Rupee outperforms EM Asia peers even as it approaches record low

Date:

Share:

[ad_1]

The Indian rupee is within a whisker of a record low, but it’s still a favoured emerging-market currency with some investors.

A reserves stockpile of $600 billion, more than $16 billion worth of foreign inflows for stocks this year and economic growth forecast at 6.5% are among the reasons behind the optimism for Neuberger Berman Singapore and Columbia Threadneedle Investments.

“The reserve number is very comfortable right now,” said Prashant Singh, senior portfolio manager for emerging-markets debt at Neuberger Berman Singapore, who favours the rupee. “Not only are the reserves high but the overall external balances profile has improved in the last couple of years.”

Also Read | What is the outlook for dollar, rupee, euro and the US Treasury yield? 

The improved economic fundamentals are why the currency is largely holding its own against the dollar — it’s down just 0.5% this year and is Asia’s third-best performer — when others from the Singapore dollar to the South Korean won have slipped more. That’s a far cry from the taper tantrum year of 2013, when the rupee plunged 11% with the nation struggling with a current account deficit and shrinking reserves.

The rupee closed at 83.1062 to a dollar on Friday, within striking distance of its record low of 83.2912 touched in October. Its volatility though dropped in June to the lowest since 2005. Most analysts forecast the currency will rise to 82 per dollar by end of 2023.

Gaura Sen Gupta, an economist at IDFC FIRST Bank Ltd., is one of those who disagree. She points out that the rupee remains vulnerable to further depreciation pressure as interest rate differentials with the U.S. are at historic lows, and predicts the currency will fall toward 84 in the coming months.

Still, India’s currency does have two other arguments in its favour. Its limited dependence on China, whose economy is stuttering, works in its favour as it’s less impacted than other EM currencies, said David Forrester, senior FX strategist at Credit Agricole CIB in Singapore.

Also Read | China is slowing. What does it mean for India? 

Part of the rupee’s weakness stems from intervention by the Reserve Bank of India to build reserves, which explains why investors are shrugging off the decline. The central bank has taken advantage of the hot inflows into the nation’s stock market to build back its dollar reserves by selling rupee. It has also pledged to curb excess volatility.

“I expect RBI to continue with its intervention operations, which will keep the INR fluctuations narrow and relatively stable, presenting investors with a higher risk-adjusted return from the INR bond market,” said Lin Jing Leong, senior EM sovereign analyst at Columbia Threadneedle Investments.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com



[ad_2]

Source link

━ more like this

Syensqo wins prestigious SPE innovation awards North America 2024

Winning application enhances safety in General Motors’ flagship electric vehicle Syensqo, a global leader in advanced performance materials and chemical solutions, has won the Safety...

Ras Al Khaimah Ruler hosts MoU signing between RAKEZ and China’s Foshan Commerce Bureau

Ras Al Khaimah Ruler hosts MoU signing between RAKEZ and China’s Foshan Commerce Bureau His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council...

Plast Eurasia Istanbul 2024: Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) Key Event for Future-proofing Innovation and Sustainability in Plastics

Plast Eurasia Istanbul 2024: Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) Key Event for Future-proofing Innovation and Sustainability in Plastics With over 1,500 exhibitors and 70,000...

ENTEK Lithium Separators Receives Direct Loan from Department of Energy Loan Programs Office for Indiana EV Battery Separator Manufacturing Plant

ENTEK Lithium Separators Receives Direct Loan from Department of Energy Loan Programs Office for Indiana EV Battery Separator Manufacturing Plant ENTEK, the only U.S.-owned and...

Alternative Drives as a Aontribution to Decarbonizing the Construction Site

Alternative Drives as a Contribution to Decarbonizing the Construction Site Broad range of e-machines already available Avoid greenhouse gases with hydrogenated vegetable oil Hydrogen...