foreign currency assets

India's foreign exchange reserves experienced a significant drop of $7.794 billion, reaching $690.693 billion in the week ending May 1. This decline, primarily driven by a fall in foreign currency assets and gold reserves, follows a previous decrease. The central bank's intervention in the forex market to support the rupee is a key factor behind this trend.

The Indian Rupee hit a fresh all-time low against the US dollar, slumping to 95.74 amid soaring crude oil prices and Middle East tensions. While RBI interventions and higher gold import duties offered some support, the currency remains vulnerable. Foreign investors offloaded equities, yet domestic stock markets opened higher.

The erosion in reserves reflects not only intervention by policymakers to support domestic currencies, but also valuation losses in non-dollar assets, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Rupee hit a fresh record low of 96.07 against the US dollar on Friday, extending its losing streak over three straight sessions amid soaring crude oil prices and escalating tensions in West Asia. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.86 against the US dollar and slipped further to 95.94, down 30 paise from its previous close.

PM Modi has called on citizens to adopt measures aimed at conserving foreign exchange, as the surge in oil prices triggered by the Iran conflict has intensified pressure on the rupee and strained India’s foreign exchange reserves.

India's central bank significantly boosted its gold reserves, bringing back 104 metric tonnes domestically between October 2025 and March 2026. This move, amid global geopolitical tensions and a decline in foreign currency assets, saw gold's share in forex reserves rise to 16.7%. Globally, central banks are increasingly repatriating gold, reflecting a growing trend towards bolstering national sovereignty.

RBI is not alone in repatriating its gold reserves. Several central banks like France’s Banque de France, Germany’s Deutsche Bundesbank, Serbia’s National Bank have done the same - buy why?

India has significantly increased import duties on gold and silver to 15% from 6%, aiming to curb rising imports and conserve foreign exchange amid the West Asia crisis. This move follows Prime Minister Modi's appeal for austerity and aims to ease pressure on the rupee and the country's balance of payments.

One of the key triggers behind the market decline was renewed uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran conflict. US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was “on life support” after Tehran rejected Washington’s latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict. Trump described Iran’s demands as “garbage.”

The move to up the gold import duty comes days after PM Narendra Modi appeals to citizens to avoid unnecessary gold purchases for a year. But is a hike in duties an effective way to curb consumption? We take a look:

India's foreign exchange reserves surged by $2.362 billion to $703.308 billion in the week ending April 17, following a previous gain of $3.825 billion. This increase, driven by rising foreign currency assets and gold reserves, marks a rebound after a decline caused by Middle East geopolitical tensions.

Despite the bullish undertone in equities, several risk factors continue to keep investors on edge. The rupee touched a fresh record low after breaching the 95.8 mark against the US dollar for the first time.

Persistent foreign fund outflows and the rupee sliding to record lows have further dampened sentiment, prompting investors to stay cautious and intensify selling across equity markets.

Fuel, gold, edible oil, foreign travel, and fertilisers — how much do they cost India, and how much do they matter right now?

India's foreign exchange reserves surged by $3.825 billion to $700.946 billion in the week ending April 10, following a significant increase in the prior week. This rise was primarily driven by an increase in foreign currency assets and gold reserves, contributing to the overall growth.

The sell-off was widespread, extending beyond large-cap stocks to the broader market. The Nifty Smallcap 100 index was down 0.5%, while the Nifty Midcap 100 index fell more than 1%.

Indian equities experienced significant volatility as geopolitical tensions impacted markets, leading to a weaker rupee and investor caution. While fear drives knee-jerk reactions, the core design of Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) is built to navigate these phases, turning market swings into a potential long-term advantage for disciplined investors.

Iran and the US remain locked in a standoff, with Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and the US imposing a naval blockade. Both actions disrupt global commons, while escalating rhetoric and social media influence commodity prices worldwide. India, heavily reliant on regional energy flows, faces significant economic fallout from this 'dual blockade'.

Technology stocks bore the brunt of the selling. Shares of Infosys, HCLTech, Tech Mahindra and Tata Consultancy Services fell between 2 per cent and 4 per cent after Infosys’ fourth-quarter results failed to meet market expectations.

Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are likely to take cues from the US Federal Reserve stance on rate cuts in the near future, says Praveen Singh, Head Currencies and Commodities, Mirae Asset ShareKhan.

The fall in HCL Technologies’ stock price wiped out around Rs 38,000 crore in market value and brought its total market capitalisation down to about Rs 3,53,000 crore.

Today is Akshaya Tritiya, an auspicious day in the Hindu calendars, believed to bring lasting prosperity and good fortune. Buying gold on this day is considered auspicious. Experts believe that returns on gold over the last few years reinforce its role as a long-term wealth preserver.

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