THE RUPEE: Minor changes

The rupee managed to hold last week's levels against the dollars on the money market on Monday in the process of trading, dealers said.

INTER-BANK MARKET RATES: RATES: The rupee did not move any side against the dollar for buying and selling at Rs 154.89 and Rs 154.91 respectively, they said.

OPEN MARKET RATES: The rupee held the last level versus the dollar for buying at Rs 154.70 while it gained 10 paisas for selling at Rs 155.00, they said. The rupee was unchanged in terms of the euro for buying and selling at Rs 170.50 and Rs 172.00 respectively, they said.

In the first Asian trade, the dollar held firm at the start of a holiday-thinned week on Monday, as US data pointed to solid economic growth while the British pound bounced slightly after having suffered its biggest weekly fall in three years.

Gross domestic product increased at a 2.1% annualised rate, the Commerce Department said in its third estimate of third-quarter GDP. That was unrevised from November's estimate.

That contrasted with an unexpected deterioration in German consumer sentiment.

The euro stood at $1.10778, little changed on the day but in retreat since it hit a four-month high of $1.12 on Dec. 13.

The dollar index was at 97.659, flat on the day but maintaining its recovery trend since hitting a five-month low of 96.605 on Dec. 12.

The dollar was available against the Indian rupee at Rs 71.150, the greenback was at 4.142 in terms of the Malaysian ringgit and the US currency was at 7.012 versus Chinese yuan

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Open Bid       Rs 154.70

Open Offer     Rs 155.00

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

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Bid Rate       Rs 154.89

Offer Rate     Rs 154.91

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RUPEE IN LAHORE: The Pak rupee failed to sustain its earlier recoveries and depreciated its worth versus the American dollar in the open currency market on Monday.

According to currency dealers, the short supply phenomenon of the US dollar prevailed throughout the trading session which helped its appreciation for buying and selling at Rs 154.60 and Rs 155.00 against the previous closing rate of Rs 154.30 and Rs 154.85 respectively.

In addition, the national currency witnessed divergent trend as it moved both ways in relation to the pound sterling that was bought and sold at Rs 200.20 and Rs 201.20 against the Saturday's closing rate of Rs 199.50 and Rs 202.00 respectively, they added.

RUPEE IN ISLAMABAD AND RAWALPINDI: The dollar gained 30 paisas against the rupee at the open currency markets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi here on Monday.

The dollar opened at Rs 155.20(buying) and Rs 155.30 (selling) against last week's rate of Rs 154.90 (buying) and Rs 155 (selling).

It closed at Rs 155.20 (buying) and Rs 155.30 (selling).

The buying and selling rates of one tola of gold were Rs 84,400 (selling) and Rs 84,200 (buying) in the local Sarafa (gold) markets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.