Summary
- The Indian Rupee hit a seven-month low, closing at 87.68 against the US Dollar on August 4, 2025, its weakest level since February, and is nearly at its all-time low.
- Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) pulled out over ₹17,741 crore ($2.15 billion) from Indian equities in July 2025, reversing three months of inflows.
- The outflows are attributed to heightened global trade tensions following a new 25% tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump on Indian imports from August 1, 2025.
- Elevated month-end dollar demand from oil importers, especially state-run companies, added pressure on the Rupee.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has intervened intermittently but sustained outflows are keeping the Rupee vulnerable.
- Major equity indices have suffered, with the Nifty50 dropping over 4% from recent highs.
- Market analysts warn the Rupee could slide further if outflows and trade uncertainties persist.
- Domestic mutual funds have partially cushioned the blow, injecting ₹2.65 trillion into equities in 2025.
- India’s trade deficit, rising oil prices, and a strong US Dollar are compounding pressures.
- Despite the free trade deal with the UK, investor sentiment remains cautious until global tensions ease.
The Indian Rupee extended its losing streak, closing at a near-record low on August 4, 2025, as relentless foreign portfolio investor outflows and heightened dollar demand from domestic oil companies battered the currency, according to trading and financial sources cited across leading media platforms.
Why Has the Rupee Fallen to Its Lowest Level Since February 2025?
As reported by the Economic Times, the Rupee closed at 87.66 to the US Dollar on Monday, August 4, 2025, compared with Friday’s close of 87.54. The currency had briefly opened stronger, buoyed by a weaker US Dollar after a disappointing jobs report, but sustained dollar-buying, especially from oil importers, erased gains as the day progressed. A private bank trader told the Economic Times,
“Consistent foreign outflows from local stocks and elevated corporate dollar demand are likely to keep the rupee under pressure”.
According to Trading Economics, the Rupee slipped 2.09% in the past month and is down 4.39% over the last twelve months, plumbing levels not seen since its February record of 88.10 per USD.
What Is Triggering Foreign Outflows from Indian Markets?
As noted by the Tribune and corroborated by Newstodaynet and Rediff, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) marked July as the first month of significant outflows in 2025, after strong positive inflows between April and June. FPIs withdrew ₹17,741 crore in July, driven by the sudden implementation of a 25% tariff on Indian goods by the United States. This marked a sharp reversal, pushing the calendar year’s total net outflow over ₹1,01,795 crore, according to National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) data.
VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, told Newstodaynet,
“FPIs sold equity worth ₹31,988 crores through the exchanges in July. This selling takes the total sale figure for 2025 to ₹1,31,876 crores. However, the FPI strategy of buying equity through the primary market also continued in July, with a monthly buying figure of ₹14,247 crores.”
Samie Modak of Business Standard highlighted that FPIs have actually offloaded close to ₹1.2 trillion worth of listed shares in 2025—one of the sharpest pullbacks among emerging markets, even though some capital remained parked in initial public offerings (IPOs) and rights issues.
How Did Oil Firms Affect Dollar Demand and the Rupee?
As investigated by EBC Financial Group and Appreciate Wealth, India’s reliance on oil imports means that any spike in global crude prices sharply raises the need for dollars by oil firms. As state-run refiners and other importers scrambled for dollars amid rising oil prices—exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and threats of additional sanctions related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict—additional pressure was placed on the Rupee.
Reuters noted the rupee’s recent slide to 86.91 on July 29, 2025, citing “dollar demand from importers and weakness in foreign portfolio flows,” a trend that deepened into early August.
What Role Did Global Trade Tensions and US Policy Play?
According to coverage by Reuters, Money Rediff, and 5paisa, US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian imports, following failed trade negotiations, shocked markets. Trump further threatened to ratchet up levies on Indian industries, particularly if India did not halt certain energy purchases from Russia, injecting additional volatility.
As quoted by Anuj Choudhary, Research Analyst at Mirae Asset Sharekhan, in Rediff,
“Indian rupee tanked sharply on uncertainty over India-US trade deal after US President Donald Trump hinted at tariff rates of around 20-25 percent.”
Choudhary predicts the rupee could depreciate further in the short-term.
How Are Other Economic Factors and the RBI Impacting the Rupee?
Trading Economics and the Economic Times highlighted that India’s consumer inflation recently hit a six-year low of 2.1%, intensifying expectations of a dovish Reserve Bank of India stance, possibly prompting further rate cuts. The RBI did step in to support the Rupee through intermittent foreign exchange interventions, but analysts such as Dilip Parmar of HDFC Securities say these may only stabilize the currency in the short run.
Dilip Parmar told the Economic Times, “Despite intraday volatility, the rupee may stabilise in the coming days,” especially as traders await the RBI rate decision later this week.
How Has the Indian Equity Market Responded?
Samie Modak of Business Standard and Reuters both underscore the impact on equities: the Nifty50 has shed over 4% from recent highs, and Indian blue-chips capped a fifth consecutive week of losses—the longest such streak in two years—as portfolio outflows weighed on the market. Analysts say that without the liquidity support from domestic mutual funds, Indian equities would have suffered even greater losses.
Are There Any Signs of Relief or Stabilization?
VK Vijayakumar of Geojit Investments pointed out that the sharp appreciation in the dollar index is a near-term headwind, but he forecasts that “a steady trend of FPI flows will emerge after the dust settles” on trade tensions and further negotiations between India and the US.
Meanwhile, India’s successful finalization of a free trade agreement with the UK, as reported by FXStreet, opens new doors for export-oriented sectors, but this has not yet been enough to reverse the strong risk-off mood among foreign investors. Domestic mutual funds have infused over ₹2.65 trillion into equities this year, providing some buffer against capital flight.
What Is the Outlook for the Rupee in the Coming Weeks?
Market forecasts compiled by BookMyForex and Trading Economics indicate that the Rupee is expected to remain under pressure and could test the 88 mark by the end of this quarter if outflows and volatility persist, before stabilizing around that level over the next twelve months. A confluence of global headwinds, policy uncertainty, and persistent dollar demand will be factors to watch.
Will the Rupee’s Slide Continue?
According to Anuj Choudhary of Mirae Asset Sharekhan (quoted by Rediff),
“We expect the rupee to slide further amid uncertainty over the trade deal between India and the US. Rising global oil prices and foreign outflows may also keep the rupee under the leash.”
Most analysts agree that the local unit may face downward pressure in the near term, though normalization of trade relations and RBI actions could provide stabilization.
In conclusion, as detailed by journalists and analysts from Economic Times, Money Rediff, Tribune India, Business Standard, Reuters, and other reputable sources, the Indian Rupee’s steep slide in early August 2025 is the result of persistent foreign outflows, spikes in dollar demand from oil companies, and global uncertainties linked to US policies and trade tariffs. The market remains braced for volatility, with cautious optimism that stabilization measures by the RBI and easing trade tensions could eventually usher in relief for the battered currency.