UAE: Indian rupee inches marginally against dirham in early trade

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The Indian rupee gained 5 paise to 82.46 against the US dollar (Dh22.46) in early trade on Friday amid positive trends in equities markets. Forex traders said falling crude price and inflow of foreign fund in domestic equities markets also provided support to the Indian currency.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened strong at 82.49 and touched the highest level of 82.45. According to a Reuters report, the Indian rupee is expected to struggle on Wednesday in the wake of the dollar index's move higher on weak risk appetite.

Non-deliverable forwards indicate rupee will open slightly weaker to the U.S. dollar from 82.8275 in the previous session.

"If you take into account the current level, it is to be expected that incremental moves higher (on USD/INR) will be quite slow and measured," a forex trader at a bank said.

"USD/INR longs, which we do not think are too many, may not like this measured pace, but will take comfort that 83 is just right there."

The rupee over the last couple of sessions has repeatedly taken support at around 82.80-82.85, which a few market participants reckon is due to the Reserve Bank of India's intervention.

The dollar index climbed 0.5% on Tuesday, helped by the drawdown on U.S. equities. China's disappointing trade data and a downgrade of U.S. mid-sized banks hurt risk sentiment.

Moody's cut the credit ratings of 10 small- to mid-sized U.S. banks and placed six large lenders on review for potential downgrades on strains from higher funding costs and rising risks.

Investors now await the U.S. inflation data due Thursday. On Wednesday, China put out its inflation numbers, which showed that deflation risks were building.

"Unless the upcoming U.S. inflation data is way different from consensus, USDINR could stick to the current range for some more time," said Srinivas Puni, managing director at QuantArt Market Solutions.

The RBI policy decision is due at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. The central bank is expected to make no changes to the policy rate but will retain the hawkish tone amid the recent jump in food prices.