BSE benchmark Sensex nursed losses on Friday as investors pocketed gains after a five-session winning streak amid a bearish trend overseas. A depreciating rupee and foreign fund outflows further soured risk sentiment, traders said. The 30-share gauge, which had started the trade on a firm note, soon gave up all the gains and finally ended 651.85 points or 1.08 per cent lower at 59,646.15. The broader NSE Nifty snapped its eight-day rally to close at 17,758.45, down 198.05 points or 1.10 per cent.
Lower dollar in the overseas market also boosted the rupee value
The US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was 0.38 per cent lower at 95.41.
Dealers attributed the rupee's fall to fresh demand for USD.
If there was one event that made the month of August stand out, it was a strengthening of the dollar index to levels last seen only 20 years ago, as the Federal Reserve dispelled all doubts about its intention to continue raising interest rates. Predictably, most currencies suffered against the US unit, with the bulk of the losers belonging to the emerging markets pack. Amid the volatility, the rupee, however, has displayed significant resilience and fared much better than most of its peer currencies.
Sliding for the fourth straight day, the BSE Sensex shed 152 points in choppy trade on Wednesday amid mixed global cues ahead of the US Federal Reserve's policy decision.
Equities went into a tailspin on Wednesday after the Reserve Bank surprised the market with a mid-cycle rate hike in a bid to tame soaring inflation.
Rupee down 13 paise to 66.72 against dollar
Gold jumps on good seasonal support; silver extends losses.
After opening higher, the markets continued to trade in the positive zone in the afternoon session as traders were encouraged by RBI governor Shaktikanta Das's statement that the new resolution framework is expected to give durable relief to borrowers amid the Covid-19 crisis, said Narendra Solanki, head-equity research (fundamental), Anand Rathi.
The US currency weakened against major Asian currencies in global markets which lifted the rupee sentiment
Indian bonds remained volatile over the past week on uncertainties over the maiden offshore sovereign bonds issuance, according to a report by DBS Group Research.
However, the hefty initial gains of the rupee, which had jumped to 61.05 intra-day, were substantially erased on month-end demand for US dollars from private oil firms and some defence-related purchases, amid fall in domestic stocks.
The rupee gained for the second day, climbing 23 paise to a one-week high of 62.07 against the dollar on Wednesday, amid a modest recovery in local stocks and sales of the US currency by exporters and banks.
This is the highest closing level since May 11, 2016 when the rupee had finished at 66.56
Silver also dived by Rs 600 to Rs 40,600 per kg.
Weakness in the dollar against some currencies supported the rupee.
On Monday, Reserve Bank hiked the lending rates to banks by 2 per cent to 10.25 per cent.
Gold prices in the country may even dip to Rs 20,500 per ten grams.
The rupee had snapped its 3-day losing streak on Thursday.
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Rupee rebounds 26 paise against dollar; snaps 2-day losses
The rupee appreciated by 37 paise to 62.12 against the dollar in early trade on Monday.
Gold rebounds after 3-day fall on renewed demand, global cues.
The Indian rupee on Wednesday ended unchanged against the US dollar at 61.41 ahead of the outcome of US Federal Reserve's policy meeting.
Traders said sluggish demand at prevailing higher levels and investors shifting their funds to surging equities mainly kept pressure on gold and silver prices.
The rupee rose by 12 paise to close at 79.78 against the US dollar on Monday due to a weak dollar in overseas markets and an improved appetite for riskier assets. Stronger regional currencies also supported the rupee sentiment ahead of the US Fed policy decision on Wednesday. Weak domestic equities and FII outflows, however, capped sharp gains. At the inter-bank forex market, the local unit opened at 79.86 against the greenback and moved in a range of 79.70 to 79.87 in the day trade.
The US dollar's weakness against some currencies overseas capped the losses.
The rupee has dropped by 60 paise or 0.89 per cent in the last three trading days.
Rupee ends flat against dollar ahead of Fed policy outcome.
On Monday, the rupee gained 16 paise.
Globally, gold advanced 0.3 per cent to USD 1,179.35 an ounce in Singapore.
Bank of America (BofA) Securities expects India to be the third-largest economy in the world by 2031. The economic rise could become a reality by 2028, but the Covid pandemic delayed the pace, BofA Securities economists Indranil Sen Gupta and Aastha Gudwani wrote in a report.
Frantic dollar demand from corporates along with an aggressive hedging strategy adopted by importers in the wake of the currency volatility predominately took a toll on the domestic unit despite moves by the central bank to stabilise the currency.
The tiny Central American nation of El Salvador has embarked on an interesting experiment by recognising bitcoin as legal tender. This is proving painful for many of its citizens but it's a useful "pilot" project for larger economies that are contemplating the peculiarities of this new asset class. El Salvador has a population of 6.5 million and GDP of about $27 billion.
Indian rupee is likely to test 76-76.50 levels as a relatively strong greenback, boiling crude prices and COVID headwinds deepen the depreciation bias for the domestic currency, according to experts. One of the significantly-hit Asian currency in recent months amid uncertain economic times, rupee is expected to see a consolidation in the vicinity of the current level before being pulled towards the depreciation bias. While the equity market has been surging with occasional blips, the rupee has mostly been weak against the US dollar in recent months.
Recovery in the equity market also boosted the rupee value against the dollar, a forex dealer said
In forward market, premium for dollar continued to fall due to persistent receivings from exporters.
Spot gold was bid lower at $ 1,298 an ounce in early European trade.
The rupee had rebounded 15 paise to close at two-week high of 61.77 against the dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on Friday.
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