Rupee gains against US dollar

The Pakistani rupee strengthened against the US dollar, appreciating 0.07% in the inter-bank market on Friday.

At close, the currency settled at 277.64, a gain of Re0.20 against the greenback.

On Thursday, the rupee had settled at 277.84, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

In a key development, foreign exchange reserves held by the SBP increased by $18 million on a weekly basis, clocking in at $11.04 billion as of October 18, data released on Thursday showed.

Total liquid foreign reserves held by the country stood at $16.02 billion. Net foreign reserves held by commercial banks stood at $4.98 billion.

Internationally, the US dollar’s rally came to a pause on Friday after it surged to a three-month high earlier this week, underpinned by tempered expectations of aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts and as market bets for a possible return of Donald Trump as US president ramp up.

Against the US dollar, the euro last bought $1.08225, some distance away from its low of $1.076125 hit earlier this week.

Still, the single currency remained on track for a 0.4% weekly loss.

Data on Thursday showed euro zone business activity stalled again this month, though the contraction in Germany - Europe’s largest economy - was less steep than the previous month.

Oil prices, a key indicator of currency parity, nudged higher on Friday and are on track for a weekly gain of more than 1%, as tensions in the world’s top oil-producing region, the Middle East, and a restart in Gaza ceasefire talks in the coming days kept traders on edge.

Brent crude futures climbed 31 cents, or 0.4%, to $74.69 a barrel by 0642 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $70.48 a barrel, up 29 cents, or 0.4%.

Oil traders are waiting for Israel’s response to a missile attack by Iran on Oct. 1 that may involve hitting Tehran’s oil infrastructure and disrupt supplies, although reports said Israel would strike Iranian military, not nuclear or oil, targets.

Inter-bank market rates for dollar on Friday

BID                            Rs 277.64

OFFER                      Rs 277.84

Open-market movement

In the open market, the PKR lost 5. paise for buying and gained 17 paise for selling against USD, closing at 276.75 and 278.62, respectively.

Against Euro, the PKR lost 64 paise for buying and 59 paise for selling, closing at 298.09 and 300.79, respectively.

Against UAE Dirham, the PKR gained 5 paise for buying and 6 paise for selling, closing at 75.22 and 75.91, respectively.

Against Saudi Riyal, the PKR gained 6 paise for both buying and selling, closing at 73.46 and 74.10, respectively.

Open-market rates for dollar on Friday

BID                            Rs 276.75

OFFER                      Rs 278.62