While the rupee is Asia’s worst performing currency so far this year, the depreciation is largely owing to the dollar strengthening rather than any inherent weakness in the domestic unit.

The rupee had ended below the 70-mark against the US dollar for the first time ever on August 16 due to strong demand for the greenback amid the ongoing Turkish crisis.

According to Tushar Pradhan, Chief Investment Officer, HSBC Global Asset Management, India, the rupee compares well against other emerging markets such as Russia, Brazil, Argentina and Turkey.

“While the Indian rupee is the worst performing in the region (down about 8.5 per cent) this year, it compares well against other emerging markets such as Russia (down 13.7 per cent), Brazil (down 14.8 per cent), Argentina (down 37.8 per cent) and Turkey at (down 42 per cent) for the year,” Pradhan told PTI.

The rupee has been on a downtrend due to global uncertainties and concerns over inflation. Pradhan further said “this weakness is more from the dollar strengthening than any inherent weakness in the rupee’’.

Meanwhile, Indian equity markets are at lifetime highs and have performed better than other emerging markets. “Indian bellwether indices such as the Nifty and the Sensex are indeed trading at all-time highs and the same is an indication of expectation of robust earnings growth,” Pradhan said.

On crude oil prices, Pradhan said “We feel, given the supply and demand situation, crude oil prices may remain in a trading range, only driven in the short-term by news of supply disruption of any kind. Global demand so far remains well aligned to available supply as of now.”

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