The Indian rupee slid to record lows, dipping below the crucial 96 level in intraday trade and weakening to 96.05 per US dollar, after briefly touching a fresh trough near 96.14. Analysts pointed to a mix of forces: higher Brent crude prices, a firmer US dollar, and hawkish signals from American policy makers. Persistent foreign capital outflows and soft net FDI inflows weighed on the balance of payments even as exports rose in April.
The rupee’s six-month slide, fueled by U.S. tariffs and policy uncertainty, reversed sharply on signals of a friendlier trade deal. Improved sentiment, sectoral gains and possible foreign inflows are supportive, but missing agreement specifics, oil and gold moves, and RBI positioning keep USD INR volatile, with downside risks still outweighing upside into 2026.
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