The rupee headed
to a one-week low against the dollar on Wednesday following a report
from a major regional newspaper that Reserve Bank of India Governor
Raghuram Rajan did not want to remain at the central bank, citing
unidentified sources.
The rupee fell to as low as 67.45 per dollar, down 0.3 per cent from
its close, after Anandabazar Patrika, a Kolkata newspaper, reported that
Rajan would prefer to go back to the United States after his three-year
term expires in early September, citing sources close to him.
The RBI did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Foreign
investors have been on edge about whether Rajan, a former chief
economist at the International Monetary Fund, will be re-appointed by
the government for a second two-year term.
Reuters on Wednesday reported the government would re-appoint the
governor, should he wish to stay on, citing government officials. Rajan
has previously declined to say whether he would accept such a
re-appointment saying it would be speculative to discuss.
Still, most analysts expect Rajan will remain at the helm of the RBI
for another two years, and despite widespread speculation, markets have
not been significantly hit by fears he would leave in September.
"Some rumours that the governor may not go for a second term led to
reducing of short positions," said Ashtosh Raina, head of foreign
exchange trading at HDFC Bank in Mumbai.
"Otherwise the rupee was expected to be strong today on the good GDP numbers."
India on Wednesday said gross domestic product expanded at a
stronger-than-expected rate of 7.9 percent, extending its lead as the
world's fastest growing large economy.
Rajan has been popular with foreign investors who cheered him for his
efforts to lower India's inflation and clean up state-run banks'
massive bad loans.
But he has also attracted the opposition of some local politicians
for not lowering interest rates enough, raising some concerns about his
future.