Rupee at life-time low of 91.95 against dollar, records over 2% slide in January

The Indian rupee slumped to an all-time low of 91.95 towards the US greenback on Friday beneath strain from international fund outflows, a pointy selloff in home equities and protracted greenback demand from importers and offshore merchants.

The foreign money later settled at a report closing low of 91.88 (provisional), down 30 paise from its earlier shut.

Fairness rout and international exits weigh closely

A renewed selloff in Indian equities has emerged as a key set off for the rupee’s newest slide. The benchmark Nifty 50 has fallen practically 5 per cent thus far in January, with losses accelerating this week.

On Friday alone, the index declined greater than 0.8 per cent, whereas the Sensex dropped 769.67 factors to 81,537.70 and the Nifty slipped 241.25 factors to 25,048.65.

Overseas portfolio traders have pulled out round $3.5 billion from Indian equities this month, in keeping with market estimates.

The strain intensified after recent considerations round Adani Group shares, following reviews that the US Securities and Trade Fee has sought courtroom permission to personally electronic mail summons to billionaire Gautam Adani.

“The Adani subject has added another excuse for the market to purchase (into greenback/rupee),” Anil Bhansali, head of treasury at Finrex Treasury Advisors, instructed Moneycontrol.

Importer demand and speculative flows add pressure

Past fairness outflows, the rupee can also be being dragged down by sturdy greenback demand from bullion importers, oil-related funds and speculative shopping for by offshore gamers. The foreign money has fallen greater than 1 per cent this week alone.

Economists warn that capital flows stay the rupee’s largest vulnerability. Portfolio fairness outflows touched a report $18.9 billion in 2025, whereas inflows by way of exterior business borrowings have remained subdued.

RBI steps in, however pattern stays weak

Market contributors say the Reserve Financial institution of India has intervened repeatedly to easy volatility and gradual the rupee’s decline. The central financial institution is believed to have offered {dollars} aggressively on no less than two events this week.

Nonetheless, the intervention has thus far solely moderated the tempo of the autumn, not reversed it.

Draw back bias persists

Analysts count on the rupee to stay beneath strain within the close to time period, although sharp strikes could also be contained by central financial institution intervention.

“We count on the rupee to commerce with a damaging bias as a consequence of promoting strain from FIIs and risk-off sentiments within the world markets. Greenback demand from hedgers and imports could additional pressurise the rupee,” Anuj Choudhary, analysis analyst at Mirae Asset Sharekhan, instructed Moneycontrol.

Choudhary added {that a} softer greenback globally and additional RBI intervention might provide some help at decrease ranges. He expects the USD-INR spot charge to commerce within the vary of 91.60 to 92.30.

World cues provide restricted reduction

Globally, the greenback index, which tracks the dollar towards a basket of six main currencies, was marginally increased at 98.36.

In the meantime, Brent crude futures rose 1.03 per cent to $64.72 per barrel. Larger oil costs sometimes weigh on the rupee, given India’s heavy dependence on crude imports.