USD/INR strengthens ahead of US NFP data

• The Indian Rupee loses traction in Friday’s Asian session. 
• Higher crude oil prices and persistent local US Dollar (USD) demand weigh on the INR. 
• Investors await the US June employment data on Friday for fresh impetus. 

The Indian Rupee (INR) weakens on Friday amid elevated crude oil prices and local US Dollar (USD) demand. Pressure on the Japanese Yen and Chinese Yuan had put Asian peers on the defensive in previous trading sessions, but the recent discouraging US economic data helped to alleviate the INR’s depreciation. 

Market players will closely monitor the US June employment data on Friday, including Nonfarm Payrolls, Unemployment Rate, and Average Hourly Earnings. These figures might offer some hints about the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) policy rates trajectory. In the case of the weaker-than-expected reading, this could fuel the Fed rate cut expectation, which exerts some selling pressure on the Greenback. 

Daily Digest Market Movers: Indian Rupee remains vulnerable amid global headwinds

• The outlook for India’s stock market performance in the coming decade is bright, buoyed by optimism about the country’s economic prospects after last month’s general election results, according to analysts citing WSJ. 
• India’s statistics ministry last week raised its GDP growth forecast to 7.6% in its second revised estimate, up from 7.3% in the first advance forecast.
• The Fed officials emphasized the data-dependent approach and refrained from committing to interest rate cuts until further observation. Several policymakers stated that it’s necessary to hike again if inflation were to rebound, according to the Minutes of the FOMC meeting on June 11-12. 
• Traders are now pricing in nearly 70% odds for a 25 basis points (bps) Fed rate cut in September, up from 58.2% last Friday, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
• The US Nonfarm Payrolls is expected to show 190K jobs added in June, below the previous reading of 272K. The Unemployment Rate is projected to remain unchanged at 4%. Finally, the Average Hourly Earnings are forecast to drop to 3.9% YoY in June from 4.1% in May.

Technical analysis: USD/INR remains confined in a familiar range in the near term

The Indian Rupee trades on a weaker note on the day. The USD/INR pair keeps the bullish vibe on the daily timeframe as it holds above the key 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). 

However, in the near term, USD/INR has oscillated within the familiar trading range for a couple of months already. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers around the 50-midline, suggesting that further consolidation is in play.

If USD strength picks up, the first bullish target will emerge at 83.65, a high of June 26. Sustained upside momentum could lift the pair up to the all-time high of 83.75 en route to the 84.00 psychological mark.

On the other hand, the initial support level for USD/INR is seen at 83.35, the 100-day EMA. Any follow-through selling could drag the pair back down to the 83.00 round figure, followed by 82.82, a low of January 12.