USD/INR weakens ahead of Indian CPI inflation release

• The Indian Rupee gains momentum in Monday’s Asian session. 
• The likely RBI intervention supports the INR; firmer USD, foreign outflows, higher oil prices might weigh on the local currency. 
• India’s December CPI inflation data will be the highlight on Monday. 

The Indian Rupee (INR) recovers some lost ground on Monday after reaching a record low in the previous session. The routine interventions by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by offering US Dollar (USD) might have helped limit the INR’s losses. 

The stronger-than-expected US employment data on Friday reinforced expectations that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) might not cut interest rates as aggressively this year. This, in turn, might provide some support to the Greenback and exert some selling pressure on the local currency. Additionally, heavy outflows from domestic equities, hawkish remarks from the Fed and a rise in crude oil prices could drag the INR lower, as India is the world's third-largest oil consumer. 

Later on Monday, traders will keep an eye on India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is expected to show an increase of 5.3% YoY in December. On the US docket, the Monthly Budget Statement will be released. 

Indian Rupee rebounds, upside potentially limited as RBI might ditch quasi-peg

• The Indian Rupee may fall past 90 per Dollar this year as the monetary authority prepares to ditch the currency’s implicit quasi-peg to the USD, according to Gavekal Research.
• The US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) rose by 256K in December, compared to a 212K increase (revised from 227K) seen in November, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Friday. This reading came in stronger than the 160K expected by a wide margin. 
• The Unemployment Rate in the US ticked lower to 4.1% in December from 4.2% in November. The Average Hourly Earnings declined to 3.9% in December versus 4.0% prior. 
• Fed Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said on Friday that if conditions are stable and there is no uptick in inflation, with full employment, the interest rates should go down, per Reuters.
• Fed St. Louis President Alberto Musalem highlighted greater caution is warranted in reducing interest rates, adding that the risk that inflation might get stuck between 2.5% and 3% had increased by the time of last month’s meeting. 

USD/INR’s uptrend remains in play, overbought RSI warrants caution for bulls

The Indian Rupee trades on a positive note on the day. The stronger uptrend of the USD/INR remains in place, with the pair holding above the key 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the daily timeframe. However, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) moves beyond the 70.00 mark, indicating the overbought condition. This suggests that further consolidation is on the cards. 

The first upside barrier for USD/INR emerges at an all-time high of 86.15. Consistent trading above this level could draw in enough demand to 86.50. 

On the flip side, the initial support level for the pair is seen at 85.85, the low of January 10. If bears are taking the upper hand, this could be followed by a drop to 85.65, the low of January 7, followed by the 85.00 psychological support level.