Rupee records marginal improvement against US dollar

Rupee's Performance Against US Dollar Since 15 Jan 2025

The Pakistani rupee recorded marginal improvement against the US dollar, appreciating 0.02% in the inter-bank market on Friday.

At close, the rupee settled at 279.67, a gain of Re0.05 against the greenback.

On Thursday, the rupee had closed at 279.72.

Globally, the US dollar drew safe-haven support on Friday ahead of US President Donald Trump’s impending tariffs, though was still headed for a monthly loss as investors weighed those threats against a darkening US growth outlook.

The US dollar index last stood at 107.24, having jumped nearly 0.9% on Thursday. Still, the index was on track for a monthly loss of 1.1%, its worst since August, as the US dollar continues to face some downward pressure amid worries over the health of the world’s largest economy.

A raft of weaker-than-expected economic data has led to traders ramping up bets of more Federal Reserve rate cuts this year, which has in turn sent US Treasury yields lower and been a drag on the US dollar.

Oil prices, a key indicator of currency parity, eased on Friday as they headed for their first monthly drop since November, dragged lower by uncertainty over global economic growth and fuel demand given Washington’s tariff threats and signs of a US economic slowdown.

The more active May Brent crude futures slipped 59 cents, or 0.8%, to $72.98 a barrel by 0747 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $69.70 a barrel, down 65 cents, or 0.9%.

Front-month Brent, which expires on Friday, traded at $73.42, down 62 cents, or 0.8%.

Both benchmarks are on track to post their first monthly decline in three months.

Inter-bank market rates for dollar on Friday

BID                            Rs279.67

OFFER                      Rs279.87

Open-market movement

In the open market, the PKR remained unchanged for both buying and selling against USD, closing at 279.13 and 281.30, respectively.

Against Euro, the PKR gained 1.78 rupee for buying and 1.65 rupee for selling, closing at 289.95 and 292.97, respectively.

Against UAE Dirham, the PKR remained unchanged for both buying and selling, closing at 76.05 and 76.60, respectively.

Against Saudi Riyal, the PKR lost 2 paise for buying and remained unchanged for selling, closing at 74.35 and 74.85, respectively.

Open-market rates for dollar on Friday

BID                            Rs279.13

OFFER                      Rs281.30