CURRENCY OVERVIEW

The Rupee opened slightly higher on Tuesday, supported by the central bank’s defence of the 88.80 handle, with expected IPO inflows providing an additional boost. The local unit on Monday traded in a narrow 7-paisa range, with the RBI seen supplying dollars through state-run banks for most of the session, they added. Bankers said the RBI has been intervening heavily in both the onshore spot and offshore non-deliverable forward markets over the past three weeks. They estimated the total intervention at a minimum of $10 billion. One banker said the actual figure could be more than $20 billion, underscoring the scale of the central bank's efforts to support the rupee. A currency trader at a mid-sized private sector bank said it appears the RBI does not want the rupee to slip past 89 for now. The RBI's defence of the 88.80 level is likely to be bolstered by expected IPO-related inflows, which are anticipated to attract interest from foreign investors. Together, they will provide near-term relief for the struggling rupee. Meanwhile, Asian currencies were mixed on Tuesday, while the dollar index climbed past 98. The Japanese yen was little changed after Monday's plunge, holding below 150 to the dollar. The yen weakened to a two-month low against the dollar on Tuesday as attention in Japan turned to who may join the cabinet of fiscal dove Sanae Takaichi after her party leadership victory. The Japanese currency set a new all-time low against the euro as domestic bond yields jumped ahead of a debt auction that will test demand under what is expected to be a more expansionist administration led by Takaichi as prime minister. Takaichi was considered to be the most dovish among five candidates in Japan's Liberal Democratic Party race on Saturday to replace hawkish Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The yield on the 30-year Japanese government bonds rose to an all-time high ahead of the debt auction. The euro remained on a fragile footing following the resignation of France's prime minister and European Central Bank officials said a rate cut may be necessary. Traders will be on watch for speeches from Federal Reserve policymakers later in the day as a U.S. government shutdown squelches other data signals. The yen slid 0.2% to 150.59 on the dollar and earlier touched 150.62, the weakest level since August 1. Japan's currency also skidded to 176.35 per euro , a fresh all-time low. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, added 0.05% to 98.17. The euro was little changed at $1.1705. The White House on Monday backed off President Donald Trump's assertion that government employees were already being laid off due to the shutdown, but warned job losses could result as the standoff looked set to stretch into a seventh day. The shutdown delayed last Friday's closely watched monthly jobs report for September and is set to postpone other key releases until the government reopens. Oil prices were steady on Tuesday, with sentiment toward a smaller-than-anticipated OPEC+ output hike dulled by weakening global demand and the potential for a supply glut. Brent crude futures gained 1 cent, or 0.02%, to $65.48 a barrel by 0014 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was unchanged at $61.69 a barrel.

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