Currencies

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Saturday that the government's priority is to ensure currency circulation favors lower denominations while enhancing public awareness about digital transactions. Addressing concerns about the Rs 500 note, she reassured that efforts are underway to prioritize lower denominations as the Rs 2000 note is mostly withdrawn from circulation.Speaking at the 'National Commemorative Seminar on 60 Years of Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya Integral Humanism Lectures' in the capital, Sitharaman stressed the need for greater digital literacy to underscore the benefits of cashless transactions. In recent...

New Delhi , : The Indian bond market is showing signs of strength, driven by easing inflation and expectations of more interest rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of India , says a report by Jefferies. The report highlighted that this environment is creating an attractive setup for domestic bonds, particularly for long-term investors in a shifting global landscape. Consumer price inflation in India has been declining steadily. Over the last fiscal year, it averaged 4.6 per cent, and in April 2025, it fell to just 3.2 per cent, the...

After appreciating towards 83.94/$1 levels in April, the combined impact of tariff uncertainties, border tensions and expectations of further monetary easing by the central bank made the rupee the worst performing currency in Asia in May. The rupee weakened 1.27% in May, from 84.48/$1 at the beginning of the month to 85.57/$1 as of May 30, and retreated the most in Asia. Agencies“There have been unwinding of long rupee positions amid tariff uncertainties while importers are taking advantage of lower forward premiums,” said Kunal Sodhani, head of treasury at Shinhan...

MUMBAI: The Indian rupee declined by about 1% in May, reversing course after gaining in the previous two months, influenced by factors such as continued uncertainty over U.S. trade policies, gains in its Asian peers and a conflict between India and Pakistan. The rupee closed at 85.5775 on Friday, capping a day of choppy trading with a mild decline. The currency had rallied to a six-month high earlier in May but shed its gains through the month. Initially, a military conflict between India and Pakistan hurt the currency but it...

In fact, UPI is not the only form of digital payment. There are other ways as well. As the RBI annual report points out: “During 2024-25, total digital payments recorded growth of 34.8 per cent and 17.9 per cent in volume and value terms, respectively.”5) Now, more digital payments happening should automatically imply people using lesser cash as a result and hence, lead to lesser cash in the system. There is no denying that that has happened, but only to some extent.As mentioned earlier, the value of UPI transactions in...

India’s forex reserves jumped by $6.992 billion to $692.721 billion during the week ended May 23, the RBI said on Friday, May 30.In the previous reporting week ended May 16, the overall reserves had dropped by $4.888 billion to $685.729 billion. The forex reserves had touched an all-time high of $704.885 billion in end-September 2024. For the week ended May 23, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by $4.516 million to $586.167 billion, the data released on Friday showed. Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency...

India's forex reserves jumped by $6.992 billion to $692.721 billion during the week ended May 23, the RBI said on Friday.In the previous reporting week ended May 16, the overall reserves had dropped by $4.888 billion to $685.729 billion. The forex reserves had touched an all-time high of $704.885 billion in end-September 2024. For the week ended May 23, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by $4.516 million to $586.167 billion, the data released on Friday showed. Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include...

However, export volumes will be flat because of higher tariffs expected to be imposed by the US and subdued demand in key importer nations as sluggish economic growth affects disposable incomes | Photo Credit: BALACHANDAR L Indian shrimp exporters will see a marginal 2-3 per cent uptick in revenues this fiscal on improved realisations stemming from rising prices and currency gains. However, export volumes will be flat because of higher tariffs expected to be imposed by the US and subdued demand in key importer nations as sluggish economic growth affects...

₹500 notes remain dominant, accounting for 40.9% of the total volume and 86% by value The printing cost of currency notes has surged by around 59 per cent over the last five years, while the supply has increased by around 36 per cent, the Reserve Bank of India’s annual report revealed.According to the report, expenditure on printing notes was over ₹4,000 crore in FY21, which surged to over ₹6,300 crore, showing a growth of 58.8 per cent. During this period, the supply of notes went up to 3,030 crore pieces...

Indian Rupee posts modest gains in Friday’s early European session. The downbeat US economic data and uncertainty of Trump's policies weigh on the US Dollar. Traders brace for India’s Q1 GDP and US April PCE inflation reports, which are due later on Friday.The Indian Rupee (INR) gains ground on Friday, snapping the three-day losing streak. The downbeat US economic data and concerns that a US court ruling would change the outlook for US tariffs undermine the US Dollar (USD). A decline in crude oil prices provides some support to the Indian currency,...