Rupee ends flat, forward premiums drop after RBI shifts policy stance
By Jaspreet Kalra
MUMBAI, Oct 9 (Reuters) -The Indian rupee ended flat on Wednesday while dollar-rupee forward premiums declined after the Reserve Bank of India kept its benchmark rates unchanged but tweaked its policy stance to "neutral", opening the door for rate cuts.
The rupee INR=IN closed at 83.9625 against the U.S. dollar, unchanged from its closing level on Tuesday.
While intermittent dollar sales from state-run banks kept losses at bay for the rupee, the shift in the RBI's policy stance pegged back dollar-rupee far forward premiums, traders said.
The dollar-rupee 1-year implied yield INRANPRM1Y=RR fell to a low of 2.20% on Wednesday, its lowest in a month, before paring losses.
Far forward premiums have also been pressured by an uptick in U.S. bond yields amid fading hopes of aggressive rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
The 1-year implied yield is down 16 basis points over October so far after rising for three consecutive months.
The change in policy stance gives the central bank more "flexibility" and "optionality", RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said at a press conference after the policy decision announcement.
"Barring any commodity price shocks, we expect the first rate cut (by the RBI) in December 2024," ANZ Bank said in a note.
Meanwhile, most Asian currencies pared gains made earlier in the session, as the dollar index rose 0.1% to 102.6, hovering close to its highest level since mid-August.
Remarks from Fed policymakers will be in focus later in the day alongside the minutes of the U.S. central bank's latest policy meeting as investors look for cues on the future interest rate trajectory.
Interest rate futures are currently pricing in about 50 basis points of rate cuts over the Fed's two remaining policy meetings in 2024. FEDWATCH
Reporting by Jaspreet Kalra; Editing by Eileen Soreng
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