India increased its purchases of foreign currency last year and has a “significant” trade surplus with the U.S., the Treasury noted in its semi-annual report on foreign-exchange practices released in Washington on Friday. The rupee has been the second-worst performing Asian currency this year, dropping 2.3 percent against the dollar, after strengthening 6.4 percent in 2017.
Here’s what analysts said:
Less Intervention
Craig Chan, global head of EM currency strategy at Nomura Holdings Inc.:
It’s possible Indian authorities will feel more pressure to refrain from intervening to stem gains in the rupee when it starts strengthening India does have one of the strongest FX reserve positions in the region
Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.:
There’s very little chance of India being named as a manipulator in the future, given that it runs persistent current-account deficits, Goh writes in note While the RBI is unlikely to cease FX intervention activity entirely, it will likely scale back the amount to move below the 2% of GDP threshold, he says in interview; that means average net FX purchases will have to stay below $4b a month When portfolio inflows pick up, the INR could strengthen more, and at times when the rupee comes under pressure, the central bank may limiting the extent of its weakness by utilizing some of the reserves, Goh says in interview
Fleeting Appearance
Divya Devesh, Asia FX strategist at Standard Chartered Plc:
Given India’s persistent current-account deficit and slight INR overvaluation, the risk of India being named a currency manipulator in the future remains extremely low India will likely drop off the monitoring list in the coming year, given a probable widening of the current-account shortfall and more modest capital inflows reducing reserves accumulation
Frances Cheung, head of Asia macro strategy at Westpac Banking Corp:
Being on the U.S. watchlist may not exert a significant impact on the rupee, apart from an initial reaction. The RBI’s forward book has fallen back since last September and it’s highly unlikely that India will meet the second criteria – a current-account surplus – anytime soon The U.S. Treasury said in its report that the INR isn’t deemed undervalued by the International Monetary Fund
Thailand, Malaysia Next?
Masakatsu Fukaya, emerging-market currency trader at Mizuho Bank Ltd:
Even though Thailand wasn’t added to monitoring list, the U.S. is considering expanding the number of nations covered by its semi-annual FX report, meaning Thailand could be added in the next report in October “Personally, it was a bit of surprise that India was added to the monitoring list”
ANZ’s Goh
Treasury said in the report it may look beyond the U.S.’s 12 major trading partners at the next report, meaning Thailand and Malaysia could be put on the monitoring list in October, Goh writes in note
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