Rupee weakens by 46 paise to close at 85.85/$

Synopsis

The Indian rupee weakened to 85.85 against the dollar due to renewed uncertainty over US tariff policies after President Trump threatened a 10% levy on BRICS nations. This announcement deteriorated market sentiment, making the rupee the third worst-performing Asian currency despite likely intervention by the Reserve Bank. Traders anticipate the rupee to fluctuate between 85.50 and 86.

Mumbai: The Indian currency weakened nearly half a rupee to close at 85.85 per dollar on Monday, from its previous close of 85.39/$1 as uncertainty about US tariff policies resurfaced with President Donald Trump's threat of an additional 10% levy on Brics countries.

The rupee opened at 85.57/$1, and weakened till 86.03/$1 on Monday, before pairing its losses and closing at 85.85/$1, likely due to intervention by the Reserve Bank, traders said.

"Markets were expecting something on the trade deal with the US, but nothing came up, and the BRICS statement deteriorated sentiments. We were the second worst performing currency in Asia, and due to potential RBI intervention, we erased some losses and to be the third worst-performing Asian currency," said Dilip Parmar, currency research analyst at HDFC Securities.

Japanese Yen and the Thai baht were the two worst performing Asian currencies. Traders expect the rupee to move in the range of 85.50/$1 to 86.25/$1 on Tuesday, ahead of July 9, when Trump will unveil his new stand on tariffs.

In a social media post, President Donald Trump stated a new tariff policy, calling for countries "aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies" of the BRICS developing nations to be charged an extra 10% tariff, with no exceptions to be granted. India, along with Brazil, China, Russia, South Africa are part of BRICS.

The dollar index gained slightly at 97.6, from 96.9 previously.

"The BRICS comment has put the India-US deal in jeopardy and we are awaiting clarifications from India-US on the matter. The rupee has fallen as the market is not expecting the deal to be done soon," said Anil Bhansali, head of treasury at Finrex Treasury Advisors.

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