THE RUPEE: Upward trend

Rising trend was witnessed on the money market on Friday in the process of trading activity, marketmen said.

INTER-BANK MARKET RATES: The rupee gained five paisas against the dollar for buying and selling at Rs 155.45 and Rs 155.50 respectively, they said.

OPEN MARKET RATES: The rupee rose by 10 paisas versus the dollar for buying and selling at Rs 155.20 and 155.50 respectively, they said. The rupee was available in terms of the euro for buying and selling at Rs 170.80 and Rs 172.60 respectively, they observed.

In the final Asian trade, the dollar held its gains versus the yen and Swiss franc on Friday as investors bought riskier assets on news that China and the United States had agreed to roll back tariffs as part of an as yet unfinalised preliminary pact to end their trade war.

China and the United States have agreed to roll back tariffs on each others' goods in a "phase one" trade deal if it is completed, officials from both sides said on Thursday.

The dollar was trading against the Indian rupee at Rs 71.228, the US currency was available at 4.132 against the Malaysian ringgit and the greenback was at 6.981 in relation to the Chinese yuan.

========================
Open Bid       Rs.155.20
Open Offer     Rs.155.50
========================

Interbank Closing Rates: Interbank Closing Rates For Dollar on Friday.

========================
Bid Rate       Rs.155.45
Offer Rate     Rs.155.50
========================

RUPEE IN LAHORE: The Pak rupee witnessed divergent trend in the process of trading against the greenback and the British pound in the local currency market on Friday.

Following fluctuating demand and supply situation in the market, the greenback moved both ways and ended for buying and selling at Rs 155.10 and Rs 155.35 against the overnight closing rate of Rs 154.80 and Rs 155.80 respectively, local currency dealers said.

Similarly, the national currency also followed the suit in relation to the pound sterling. The British currency was bought and sold at Rs 198.20 and Rs 198.90 against the Thursday's closing of trend Rs 198.00 and Rs 200.00 respectively, they added.

RUPEE IN ISLAMABAD AND RAWALPINDI: The dollar gained 20 paisas against the rupee at the open currency markets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi here on Friday.

The dollar opened at Rs 155.70(buying) and Rs 155.80(selling) against last rate of Rs 155.50(buying) and Rs 155.60(selling).

It closed at Rs 155.70(buying) and Rs 155.80(selling).

The buying and selling rates of one tola of gold were Rs. 87,500 (selling) and Rs 87,000 (buying) in the local Sarafa (gold) markets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.