Rupee records slight improvement against US dollar

Rupee's Performance Against US Dollar Since 22 Jan 2025

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

At close, the currency settled at 280.17, a gain of Re0.04 against the greenback.

During the previous week, rupee depreciated further against the US dollar as it lost Re0.24 or 0.09% in the inter-bank market.

The local unit closed at 280.21, against 279. 97 it had closed the week earlier against the greenback, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Internationally, the US dollar hovered close to a five-month low against its major peers on Monday, pressured by President Donald Trump’s erratic trade policies and a run of soft macroeconomic data.

The euro stood not far from a five-month peak after German parties on Friday agreed on a fiscal deal that could boost defence spending and revive growth in Europe’s largest economy.

Elsewhere, the Japanese yen stuck close to a five-month top, buoyed by hawkish signals from the Bank of Japan, although the central bank is widely expected to retain the status quo in a policy decision on Wednesday. The US Federal Reserve is also expected to leave policy unchanged on Wednesday.

The Chinese yuan edged back towards the strongest level in four months in offshore trading, ahead of a highly anticipated press conference on steps to boost domestic consumption, scheduled for 0700 GMT on Monday.

The US dollar index, which measures the currency against the euro, yen and four other counterparts, was little changed at 103.71 early in the Asian morning, less than 0.5% away from a five-month trough of 103.21 reached last Tuesday.

The index is currently down almost 6% from the more than two-year peak of 110.17 touched in mid-January, as optimism that Trump’s presidency would spur growth turned into worries that his trade policies could trigger recession.

Oil prices, a key indicator of currency parity, traded higher on Monday after the United States vowed to keep attacking Yemen’s Houthis until the Iran-aligned group ends its assaults on shipping, and Chinese economic data fuelled hopes for higher demand.

US President Donald Trump launched military strikes against the Houthis on Saturday over the group’s attacks against Red Sea shipping.

Brent futures rose 72 cents, or 1%, to $71.30 a barrel by 0920 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 59 cents, or 0.9%, to $67.77.

Inter-bank market rates for dollar on Monday

BID                            Rs 280.17

OFFER                      Rs 280.36

Open-market movement

In the open market, the PKR gained 2 paise for buying and lost 12 paise for selling against USD, closing at 279.83 and 281.98, respectively.

Against Euro, the PKR lost 1.14 rupee for buying and 89 paise for selling, closing at 304.22 and 306.95, respectively.

Against UAE Dirham, the PKR lost 3 paise for buying and remained unchanged for selling, closing at 76.20 and 76.75, respectively.

Against Saudi Riyal, the PKR lost 6 paise for buying and 2 paise for selling, closing at 74.72 and 75.24, respectively.

Open-market rates for dollar on Monday

BID                            Rs 279.83

OFFER                      Rs 281.98