The rupee firmed against the dollar on Wednesday after a flat open, pushing USD/INR down towards 95.15 even as Middle East tensions rekindled after US retaliation against Iran for the downing of an Apache helicopter over Hormuz. Oil prices moved higher, with the June 18 MCX Crude Oil contract up 0.8% to around 8,490, while having recovered roughly half of Tuesday’s early slide from 8,212. Late Tuesday, CENTCOM said it struck Iranian air defence, ground control and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz, a route for almost 20% of global energy supply, and Iran responded with missile launches against US airbases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Foreign Institutional Investors have been net sellers on every trading day so far in June, with outflows totalling Rs 60,529.36 crore. Markets were also set to focus on US CPI for May at 12:30 GMT: headline inflation is seen at 4.2% year-on-year versus 3.8% in April, while core CPI is forecast at 2.9% against 2.8%. CME FedWatch prices the odds of at least one Fed rate rise this year at almost 72%, while India’s CPI on Friday is expected at 4% YoY versus 3.48%. Technically, USD/INR is tracking a Symmetrical Triangle, with the 20-day EMA at 95.46 and the RSI in the 40–60 band; resistance sits near 96.00 then 97.10, with support at 95.04 and 94.49.
Rupee Strength Amid Geopolitical and Oil Market Turmoil
We are seeing the Indian Rupee show some unusual strength today, even with rising Middle East tensions and higher oil prices. This presents a complex picture for traders, as the underlying fundamentals point towards Rupee weakness. We should therefore be cautious of this current dip in the USD/INR pair and consider it a potential opportunity.
The flare-up in the Strait of Hormuz is pushing crude oil prices higher, with the MCX contract nearing 8,490. Given that India imports over 85% of its crude oil requirements, according to the latest data from the Petroleum Ministry, a sustained rise in oil prices historically puts significant downward pressure on the Rupee. We saw a similar pattern in late 2023 when a spike in Brent crude above $95 per barrel corresponded with the USD/INR pair testing new highs.
Adding to the pressure, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are pulling money out of Indian markets at an accelerated pace. The reported outflow of over Rs. 60,000 crore this month alone is a major red flag for the Rupee’s stability. NSDL data confirms this trend, showing that foreign investors have been net sellers in Indian equities for 12 consecutive trading sessions, signaling a clear risk-off sentiment.
Trading Strategies and Risk Considerations
All eyes are now on the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data due later today, which is expected to show inflation accelerating. A hot inflation print would reinforce expectations of an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve, likely strengthening the US dollar globally. The CME FedWatch tool already shows a 72% probability of at least one rate hike this year, which would make holding dollars more attractive than rupees.
From a trading perspective, this environment suggests we should prepare for the USD/INR pair to move higher. We can consider buying USD/INR call options with strike prices approaching the 96.00 resistance level to profit from a potential upward breakout fueled by today’s CPI data. The current sideways market action noted in the technical analysis may offer a chance to enter these positions before volatility increases.
Given the market’s current indecisiveness, we should also consider strategies that hedge against unexpected moves. While our bias is for Rupee weakness, employing a straddle strategy using options could be prudent to capitalize on a significant price swing in either direction following the inflation report. We will use the 95.04 support level as a key indicator; a firm break below this could challenge our current view.
