The currency's relatively stable performance even as the US announced tapering showed India's better preparedness to deal with any fallout of such foreign fund outflows.
.jpg)
Dealers cited some dollar selling by state-run banks in the session, which some said may be on behalf of the central bank.
The partially convertible rupee closed at 62.09/10 per dollar compared with Tuesday close of 62.01/02, a fifth day of losses out of six.
The RBI is widely expected to raise its key repo rate by 25 basis points to 8.00 per cent on Wednesday, its third such hike in four months after recent data showed both wholesale and retail inflation at multi-month highs.
Forex dealers said besides a lower opening in the domestic equity market on fears of a rate hike by the Reserve Bank, higher demand for the American currency from importers put pressure on the rupee but dollar's weakness against other currencies overseas, capped the fall.
.jpg)
RBI chief Raghuram Rajan said on Thursday he was 'very uncomfortable' with the inflation reading, a comment that probably seals the case for him to deliver his third rate increase next Wednesday, despite a weak economy.
The country's merchandise deficit narrowed to $9.2 billion in November, but exports growth eased to 5.9 percent from 13.5 percent in October, government data showed.
The rupee resumed higher at 61.75 as against the last closing level of 62.05 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market and firmed up further to a one-month high of 61.53 before quoting at 61.59 per dollar at 1045 hours.
.JPG)
The gains in the rupee masked a rising sense of caution across markets ahead of the results of elections in several states. Delhi was the latest to hold assembly elections on Wednesday.
.jpg)
Fund managers will be given more flexibility to invest in corporate bonds.
The deficit data was the latest in a run of positive signs for the sluggish domestic economy and could put India in a better position should the Fed start tapering, than in the summer when the rupee hit a record low.
.jpg)
The rupee was last at 62.05/06 after gaining to as high 61.9650 against the dollar, its highest since Nov 19. It had closed at 62.44/45 on Friday.
The RBI also asked the oil marketing companies to smoothen their daily dollar demand so that upcoming bunched up demand was covered in advance in forward markets or on days with low dollar demand.
The RBI also asked the oil marketing companies to smoothen their daily dollar demand so that upcoming bunched up demand was covered in advance in forward markets or on days with low dollar demand.
Data showing foreign institutional investors have slowed their purchases in domestic shares further added to the weak sentiment.
However, dealers said that most of the rupee's gains were lost on consistent dollar demand from state-run oil refiners and other importers.
The gains will provide a much-needed reprieve after the rupee fell for a fifth week and hit an over two-month low last week in trade.
Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, in a hurriedly called press conference, said that the central bank has now routed back most of the dollar demand from oil companies to the market.
The rupee was also pressured as the euro fell for a second day on Friday, hurt by the European Central Bank's surprise interest rate cut and a downgrade to France's credit rating, while the dollar inched up before a key US jobs report.
S&P is the only of the three major credit agencies with a 'negative' outlook on India.
© 2025 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances