Indian Rupee Trading
Indian Rupee trading (INR) has seen a marked growth in popularity that has correlated strongly with the rise in Eastern economies. This article provides an overview of trading the INR, how the exchange rate works, the pros & cons of the currency and factors affecting its price. We will also provide some top tips and strategy advice for Indian rupee trading and have compiled a list of the top forex brokers below.
Indian Rupee Trading Brokers
- OANDA US - OANDA offers a diverse selection of 68 currency pairs, more than many alternatives. The broker’s in-house platform offers superb day trading capabilities via powerful TradingView charts, including 65+ technical indicators and 11 customizable chart types.
- Vantage - Vantage offers 55+ currency pairs - above the industry average, so experienced traders can explore plenty of opportunities. Vantage's deep liquidity pool provides forex spreads from 0.0 pips in the ECN account, lower than many alternatives. There are also no commissions, deposit fees or hidden charges.
- IC Markets - IC Markets maintains its commitment to providing exceptionally tight 0.0-pip forex spreads on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD. This makes it an excellent option if you are seeking superior execution, with an average of 35 milliseconds. Additionally, if you are a high-volume trader, you can benefit from rebates of up to $2.50 per forex lot.
- AvaTrade - AvaTrade offers 50+ currency pairs with competitive spreads from 0.9 pips and zero commissions. You can trade majors, minors and exotics around the clock on industry-leading platforms, including MT4 and MT5. Traders can also access beginner-friendly trading tools and comprehensive forex education.
- FOREX.com - FOREX.com continues to uphold its stature as a premier FX broker, offering over 80 currency pairs and boasting some of the most competitive fees in the industry. With EUR/USD spreads dipping as low as 0.0 and $5 commission per $100k, it stands out. Moreover, its SMART Signals help to identify price behaviors across numerous major currency markets.
Indian Rupee Trading Comparison
| Broker | Forex Assets | EUR/USD Spread | Forex App Rating | Minimum Deposit | Regulator | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
65+ | 1.6 | 4 / 5 |
$0 | NFA, CFTC | Visit |
|
55+ | 0.0 | 4 / 5 |
$50 | FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC | Visit |
|
75 | 0.02 | 4.8 / 5 |
$200 | ASIC, CySEC, FSA | Visit |
|
50+ | 0.9 | 4.3 / 5 |
- | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBol, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM | Visit |
|
80+ | 1.2 | 4.9 / 5 |
$100 | NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, SFC, FSA, MAS, CIMA | Visit |
|
100+ | 0.1 | 4.7 / 5 |
$0 | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB | Visit |
|
55+ | 1.6 | 4.7 / 5 |
$5 | ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC, FSCA | Visit |
|
50+ | 0.0 | 3.6 / 5 |
$100 | ASIC, FCA, xCySEC, SCB | Visit |
|
45+ | Variable | 3 / 5 |
$0 | - | Visit |
|
60+ | 14 pips | 4.5 / 5 |
$10 | - | Visit |
|
50+ | 1.2 | 4 / 5 |
$10 | FSC, FSA | Visit |
|
70+ | 1.58 pips (Ave) | 2.5 / 5 |
$100 | FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSC | Visit |
|
70+ | 0.2 | 3.4 / 5 |
$0 | CySEC | Visit |
|
70+ | 1.0 | 4.8 / 5 |
$0 | FCA, CySEC, KNF, CNMV, DFSA, FSC | Visit |
|
60+ | 0.6 | 5 / 5 |
$100 | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, MAS, FSA, FSCA, FMA, EFSA | Visit |
#1 - OANDA US
Why We Chose OANDA US
OANDA offers a diverse selection of 68 currency pairs, more than many alternatives. The broker’s in-house platform offers superb day trading capabilities via powerful TradingView charts, including 65+ technical indicators and 11 customizable chart types.
"OANDA remains an excellent broker for US day traders seeking a user-friendly platform with premium analysis tools and a straightforward joining process. OANDA is also heavily regulated with a very high trust score."
- DayTrading Review Team
- GBPUSD Spread: 3.4
- EURUSD Spread: 1.6
- EURGBP Spread: 1.7
- Total Assets: 65+
- Leverage: 1:50
- Platforms: OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist
About OANDA US
OANDA is a popular brand offering exceptional execution, low deposit requirements and advanced charting and trading platform features. The top-rated brand has over 25 years of experience and is regulated by trusted agencies, including the NFA/CFTC. Around the clock support is available for short-term traders, alongside flexible contract sizes and automated trade executions.
Pros
- The proprietary OANDA web platform continues to deliver a highly competitive charting environment, including 65+ technical indicators powered by TradingView
- Day traders can enjoy fast and reliable order execution
- Beginners can get started easily with $0 minimum initial deposit
Cons
- It's a shame that customer support is not available on weekends
- The range of day trading markets is limited to forex and cryptos only
- There's only a small range of payment methods available, with no e-wallets supported
#2 - Vantage
Why We Chose Vantage
Vantage offers 55+ currency pairs - above the industry average, so experienced traders can explore plenty of opportunities. Vantage's deep liquidity pool provides forex spreads from 0.0 pips in the ECN account, lower than many alternatives. There are also no commissions, deposit fees or hidden charges.
"Vantage remains an excellent option for CFD traders seeking a tightly-regulated broker with access to the reliable MetaTrader platforms. The fast sign-up process and $50 minimum deposit make it very straightforward to start day trading quickly."
- DayTrading Review Team
- GBPUSD Spread: 0.5
- EURUSD Spread: 0.0
- EURGBP Spread: 0.5
- Total Assets: 55+
- Leverage: 1:500
- Platforms: ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade
About Vantage
Founded in 2009, Vantage offers trading on 1000+ short-term CFD products to over 900,000 clients. You can trade Forex CFDs from 0.0 pips on the RAW account through TradingView, MT4 or MT5. Vantage is ASIC-regulated and client funds are segregated. Copy traders will also appreciate the range of social trading tools.
Pros
- Vantage maintains its high trust score thanks to its strong reputation and top-tier regulation from the FCA and ASIC
- The broker has recently made efforts to expand its suite of CFDs providing further trading opportunities
- The low minimum deposit of $50 and zero funding fees make this broker a great choice for new traders
Cons
- A steep $10,000 deposit is needed for the best trading conditions, which include the $1.50 commission per side
- Unfortunately, cryptos are only available for Australian clients
- It's a shame that some clients will need to register with the offshore entity, which offers less regulatory protection
#3 - IC Markets
Why We Chose IC Markets
IC Markets maintains its commitment to providing exceptionally tight 0.0-pip forex spreads on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD. This makes it an excellent option if you are seeking superior execution, with an average of 35 milliseconds. Additionally, if you are a high-volume trader, you can benefit from rebates of up to $2.50 per forex lot.
"IC Markets offers superior pricing, exceptionally fast execution and seamless deposits. The introduction of advanced charting platforms, notably TradingView, and the Raw Trader Plus account, ensures it remains a top choice for intermediate to advanced day traders."
- DayTrading Review Team
- GBPUSD Spread: 0.23
- EURUSD Spread: 0.02
- EURGBP Spread: 0.27
- Total Assets: 75
- Leverage: 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
About IC Markets
IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.
Pros
- As a tightly regulated and widely respected broker, IC Markets prioritizes client security and transparency, helping to ensure a reliable trading experience globally.
- With ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 35 milliseconds and deep liquidity, IC Markets provides an optimal trading environment for scalpers, hedgers, and algorithmic traders.
- You have access to over 2,250 CFDs across various markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, allowing for diversified trading strategies.
Cons
- Despite four industry-leading third-party platforms, there is no proprietary software or trading app built with new traders in mind.
- Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
- There are fees for certain withdrawal methods, including a $20 wire charge, which can eat into profits, especially for frequent withdrawals.
#4 - AvaTrade
Why We Chose AvaTrade
AvaTrade offers 50+ currency pairs with competitive spreads from 0.9 pips and zero commissions. You can trade majors, minors and exotics around the clock on industry-leading platforms, including MT4 and MT5. Traders can also access beginner-friendly trading tools and comprehensive forex education.
"AvaTrade offers the full package for short-term traders. There is powerful charting software, reliable execution, transparent fees, and fast account opening with a low minimum deposit."
- DayTrading Review Team
- GBPUSD Spread: 1.5
- EURUSD Spread: 0.9
- EURGBP Spread: 1.5
- Total Assets: 50+
- Leverage: 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)
- Platforms: WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
About AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker, established in 2006 and regulated across 9 jurisdictions. Over 400,000 users have signed up with the broker which processes over 2 million trades each month. The firm offers multiple trading platforms, including MT4, MT5, and a proprietary WebTrader. 1250+ financial instruments are available for day trading, alongside a comprehensive education center and multilingual customer support.
Pros
- The broker offers reliable 24/5 multilingual customer support with fast response times during testing
- The broker’s unique risk management tool, AvaProtect, protects against losses up to $1 million and is easy to activate in the platform
- WebTrader is well-suited to beginners and features a strong suite of technical analysis tools and market research for day traders
Cons
- A high $2000 minimum investment is required to use DupliTrade, which will be out of reach for many beginners
- There is no ECN account with raw spreads
- There’s an above-average $50 inactivity fee after three months, though this won't impact active day traders
#5 - FOREX.com
Why We Chose FOREX.com
FOREX.com continues to uphold its stature as a premier FX broker, offering over 80 currency pairs and boasting some of the most competitive fees in the industry. With EUR/USD spreads dipping as low as 0.0 and $5 commission per $100k, it stands out. Moreover, its SMART Signals help to identify price behaviors across numerous major currency markets.
"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."
- DayTrading Review Team
- GBPUSD Spread: 1.3
- EURUSD Spread: 1.2
- EURGBP Spread: 1.4
- Total Assets: 80+
- Leverage: 1:200 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
About FOREX.com
Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
Pros
- There’s a wealth of educational resources including tutorials, webinars, and a stacked YouTube channel to help you get educated in the financial markets.
- Alongside a choice of leading platforms, FOREX.com offers a superb suite of supplementary tools including Trading Central research, SMART Signals pattern scanner, trading signals, and strategy builders.
- FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.
Cons
- Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
- Funding options are limited compared to leading alternatives like IC Markets and don’t include many popular e-wallets, notably UnionPay and POLi.
- FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.
An Overview Of Indian Rupee Trading
The Indian rupee is used as legal tender for over 1 billion people living in India. In the past decade, India has experienced huge increases in its economy’s growth rate, reaching the position of the fifth largest GDP worldwide. Although the growth in the economy has been strong, the domestic currency has experienced a drop against other main currencies in recent years. However, India’s large workforce and economic growth is an indication that the currency may start to strengthen again.
How Is The INR Exchange Rate Determined?
India has a floating exchange rate system whereby the exchange rate of another currency with the Indian rupee is influenced by multiple market indicators like demand and supply. For example, if demand for the INR increases, its strength will increase as the currency becomes more desirable and scarce.
Likewise, if supply were to increase or demand were to decrease, the currency’s strength would reduce as the market becomes more saturated with the currency in relation to the market’s desire to obtain it.
Pros Of Indian Rupee Trading
Indian rupee trading can be a volatile experience. If buy-sell rates that include the rupee are very variable then profits could be made more quickly for successful trades, particularly if you can make correct predictions and identify important trends.
Trading forex is a much more straightforward process today than it used to be. Nowadays, investors have years of historical data and INR price history to draw upon to make predictions. Moreover, online trading services and automated trading systems are much more accessible and affordable, with more sophisticated technical analysis tools, mobile app support and order execution models available.
Cons Of Indian Rupee Trading
Whilst the volatility of the Indian Rupee can make for large profits, it can also lead to big losses. The quick changes in the currency’s value can make an accurate prediction of trends more difficult and losses more sudden and significant.
Indian rupee trading is not as popular as many other currencies in the foreign exchange market, meaning that forex day trading platforms often have reduced leverage rates on offer for related pairs. This can limit the profitability of trades for more adventurous investors.
Similarly, the lower interest in trading the INR leads to reduced trading volume and market liquidity. This can impact profits both in terms of greater slippage and wider spreads.
Factors Affecting INR Price
Many factors can affect the value of the currency and anyone involved with Indian rupee trading must watch out for these, both to better inform trend predictions and to exit positions before a wild reversal. The main factors to consider are the political climate, both domestic and international, central bank policy, external risk and economic health.
The GDP growth rate plays a huge role in the dominance of a particular currency and ties in most of the factors listed above. If an economy is growing quickly due to something like a political change, then investors are likely to be interested in that economy. When they invest, they will need to make their investment in the domestic currency meaning the demand for that currency will increase. As an investor on the forex market, if you suspect an influx of investment/economic growth in a particular economy then you could buy the currency whilst it is relatively cheap and then sell it when there is higher demand.
Trading Hours
Trading in the forex market is open 24/5, allowing for all countries and exchanges to get involved during convenient times of the day. That being said, there are often better hours in the day for trading particular currencies and forex pairs. Generally, the times during which the relevant stock exchanges are open is a good time to trade as liquidity and volume are higher, reducing slippage and spreads.
The Stock Exchange of India is open 09:00 – 17:00 IST (Indian Standard Time), corresponding to 03:30 – 11:30 GMT. These hours will likely be relatively good for most Indian rupee trading pairs. However, the active trading hours in the London and New York sessions, especially when trading GBP/INR or USD/INR, will generally see much better liquidity and volume.
The London session runs from 08:00 to 17:00 GMT and the New York session runs from 14:00 to 22:00 GMT. Therefore, the best times for Indian rupee trading are generally 08:00 to 17:00 GMT, crossing through the end of the Indian stock market hours and hitting the crossover of the London and New York sessions.
Brokers That Support Indian Rupee Trading
If you wish to get involved with Indian rupee trading you will need to find a suitable brokerage. Most online forex platforms will offer some currency pairs involving the INR, such as EUR/INR and CHF/INR. We have created a list of our top recommended forex brokers here and you can find a detailed guide to comparing options on our forex brokers page. Before opening an account and depositing money anywhere, double-check that the firm in mind definitely offers the currency pairs you are looking for.
Utilising Data Tracking Tools
Indian rupee trading is much like other forms of forex, securities and derivatives trading in that tracking, analysis and educational tools are invaluable resources to investors of all experience levels. Carefully consider different charting options and timeframes, indicators, signals services and market analysis services to try to best predict the price movements of the INR. You should also make use of market trackers, forecasts, expert tips and educational videos and courses to try to get the most out of your trading experience.
Final Word On Indian Rupee Trading
Indian rupee trading allows investors to speculate upon the comparative strength of the INR and, indirectly, the Indian economy as a whole. The technological advancements of recent years have made the process much more accessible and straightforward than it once was, so retail traders from across the world can get involved. The currency is not one of the most popularly traded, so it suffers from reduced liquidity compared to some other major currencies, though the volatility this brings can be an attractive prospect for seasoned traders. To get started, simply open an account with a forex broker that offers currency pairs involving the INR and begin.
FAQs
What Is The Indian Rupee?
The Indian rupee (INR) is the official currency of India and exists as legal tender for more than one billion people. The currency is a managed-floating one, with exchange rates influenced by market powers like supply and demand, with the central bank trading some rupees to better their own interests.
Why Should I Trade The Indian Rupee?
Indian rupee trading can be volatile, which means successful trades could make quicker, more significant profits. Additionally, forex trading is much more accessible than it once was, so retail investors can easily access online platforms, trading charts and analysis tools.
What Strategy Should I Use When Trading The Indian Rupee?
There is no one best strategy for Indian rupee trading, or indeed any form of trading, as the markets are so unpredictable and volatile. However, successful traders are often those who are rigorous with their risk management and pay close attention to both fundamental and technical analysis, making use of historical data and useful tools. A more in-depth guide to trading strategies can be found here.
What Factors Affect The Price Of The Indian Rupee?
Many factors can affect the price of the INR, and any investors involved with Indian rupee trading should keep a close eye on them. The most noteworthy ones include central bank policy, economic health, GDP growth and the political climate.
Does India Use The Gold Standard?
India got rid of the gold standard in 1993 for a managed floating regime, whereby the currency is floated against others in the world but the central bank purchases some INR to moderately influence exchange rates.