MUMBAI, Sept 18 Reuters The Indian rupee is expected to open slightly higher on Monday with expectations around intervention by the central bank offsetting concerns over elevated crude oil prices and a widening trade deficit.

Nondeliverable forwards indicate rupee will open at around 83.10 to the U.S. dollar compared with 83.1850 in the previous session.

It will be difficult for the dollar to take out its life time high due to Reserve Bank of India39;s presence, said Ritesh Bhansali, director at Mecklai Financial.

The rupee39;s uptick at open will probably be an adjustment after the down move on Friday, a foreign exchange trader at a private bank said. The trader expects the rupee be in a 83.10 and 83.25 range on Monday.

The rupee sold off in the last half hour of Friday39;s session, which traders attributed to the trade deficit data and position adjustment heading into the weekend.

India39;s merchandise trade deficit in August was 24.16 billion, higher than the expected 21 billion.

Trade deficit has been rising for the last few months, led by wider net nonoil nongold imports, IDFC First Bank said in a note.

This reflects domestic demand conditions holdingup and weakness in exports due to external demand weakness. This combination is likely to maintainupward pressure on trade deficit.

Rising oil prices is an additional source of risk for India39;s trade deficit.

Brent crude, hovering near yeartodate highs, is up 8.5 this month and has jumped 26 this quarter….