The rupee has already lost 2.6 per centagainst the dollar so far this month The rupee's near-term fortunes may directly be influenced by the Reserve Bank of India's intent on preventing any further depreciation in the currency as the surge in COVID-19 cases hits jobs and growth, economists and traders said. The rupee has already lost 2.6 per cent against the dollar so far this month, putting it on the cusp of marking its worst month, since the pandemic hit the country early last year. "INR is likely to trade with a depreciating bias on the back of a stronger dollar, relatively weaker EM currencies, muted EM inflows and rising COVID-19 cases in India," said Sameer Narang, chief economist at state-run Bank of Baroda.