Rupee rises 61 paise to 86.84 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee gained 61 paise to 86.84 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday, after nearing closer to 88-level on Monday, amid high volatility as heightened trade war fears have created widespread economic uncertainty, significantly impacting global currency markets.
The sharp depreciation in the rupee was driven primarily by the threats of reciprocal tariffs and additional protectionist measures that have strained global supply chains, deepening concerns over prolonged economic disruption, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 87.45 against the greenback, then touched 86.84 against the American currency in morning trade, registering a rise of 61 paise from its previous close.
On Monday, the rupee plunged 45 paise and moved closer to the 88 per US dollar level, weighed down by the strength of the American currency tariff concerns, but eventually settled at 87.45, up 5 paise, following RBI intervention.
"As USD/INR neared 88, the RBI intervened, leveraging its USD 630 billion reserves and 10-month import cover. It sold USD 2–3 billion to curb volatility, stabilizing the rupee and reinforcing market confidence," CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said.
Pabari further noted that the rupee is expected to trade at elevated levels 87.95-88.20 in the near term, with 87.20-87.40 acting as a key support level. "A close below 87.00 level will be the first indication of a trend reversal," he said.
Meanwhile, the US dollar index surged to 108.40, driven by escalating trade tensions following the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on aluminium and steel.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
