The rupee's biggest rally in seven years will give the central bank scope to rebuild its foreign-exchange reserves, potentially limiting further gains after the boost from the India-US trade deal, according to some analysts.Barclays Bank Plc and Nomura Holdings Inc. are among those predicting that the Reserve Bank of India will use the recovery in the rupee to buy dollars. They recommend shorting the rupee — Nomura sees it at 94 to a dollar by May, while Barclays is targeting that level via a three-month of ...

Summary of India Macro Outlook Post 50% Tariff, GST 2.0 & Strong GDP Data Industry Overview - **Industry**: Indian Economy - **Report Date**: September 4, 2025 - **Research Provider**: Deutsche Bank Key Points Economic Growth - Real GDP growth for April-June 2025 has exceeded expectations, but risks remain high for the second half of FY26 due to a 50% tariff shock [5][6] - Nominal GDP growth is projected to decline from 14.0% in FY23 to 12.0% in FY24, and further to 9.8% in FY25, with expectations of 9.0% or lower in FY26 [6][11] - The importance of nominal GDP growth is emphasized, as it affects corporate earnings, fiscal ratios, and debt dynamics [6] Inflation Trends - August CPI inflation is forecasted to rise to 2.23% YoY from 1.55% in July, with expectations of remaining subdued in the near term [7] - CPI inflation is projected to average 3.0% in FY26 and 4.5% in FY27, with a potential rise to 5.1% in April-June 2026 [8][9] - Core CPI inflation is expected to increase to an average of 4.4% in FY26, up from 3.5% in FY25 [9] Fiscal Outlook - GST 2.0 is expected to be fiscally sustainable, with higher consumption offsetting revenue shortfalls [10] - A revenue shortfall of INR 400-500 billion is anticipated in FY26, pushing the fiscal deficit to 4.50% of GDP [10][11] - FY26 GST collection is estimated at INR 11.8 trillion, a 10.9% YoY increase, but risks remain for lower tax collections due to moderating nominal GDP growth [11] Monetary Policy - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to cut rates by 25bps on October 1, 2025, in response to growth risks [12] - The RBI's previous rate cuts have occurred despite positive GDP growth surprises, indicating a cautious approach to monetary policy [12] Currency and Foreign Exchange - The Indian Rupee is expected to depreciate mildly, with a target of 88.0 against the USD by the end of December 2025 [13] - India's FX reserves stand at USD 690 billion, but net reserves are lower at USD 635 billion, indicating potential vulnerabilities [14] Additional Insights - India's International Investment Position (IIP) is negative, with liabilities exceeding assets, highlighting the need for building FX reserves [14] - The report emphasizes the importance of qualitative assessments of GDP growth figures, particularly in light of deflator impacts [6] Financial Projections - The report includes a detailed financial forecast for various economic indicators, including GDP growth, fiscal deficit, CPI inflation, and trade balance [15] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the Deutsche Bank report on India's macroeconomic outlook, focusing on growth, inflation, fiscal policy, and currency dynamics.