Indian rupee hits record low of 90.46 against US dollar
What's the story
The Indian rupee has hit an all-time low, crossing the 90 per US dollar mark again. The currency fell to a record low of 90.4675 against the greenback today, surpassing its previous low of 90.42 recorded on December 4. The decline is largely attributed to the lack of a trade deal with the United States and corporate dollar outflows.
Central bank action
RBI's intervention to mitigate rupee's fall
In light of the rupee's sharp depreciation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is said to have stepped in today. Five traders told Reuters that the central bank's intervention was mild and aimed at slowing down the currency's fall rather than keeping it at a particular level. This move comes as part of RBI's efforts to stabilize the Indian currency amid global economic pressures.
Worrying
INR down 5% this year
The Indian rupee has plunged by more than 5% this year. This is driven by a higher trade deficit, uncertainty over the US trade deal, and portfolio outflows. The fall in currency value should affect the prices of many imported goods and services.