THE RUPEE: Firm trend

The rupee maintained last levels against the dollar on the money market on Saturday in the process of trading activity, dealers said.

OPEN MARKET RATES: The rupee was unmoved in relation to the dollar for buying and selling at Rs 154.30 and Rs 154.60 respectively, while the rupee was almost inert in terms of the euro for buying and selling at Rs 168.30 and Rs 170.00 respectively, they said.

In the final US trade, the dollar fell against the safe-haven yen on Friday as nagging fears about the latest coronavirus that broke out in China a few weeks ago overshadowed an overall strong US non-farm payrolls report.

The yen rose after four straight days of selling that was spurred by investors being encouraged by the efforts from the Chinese government to contain the virus and limit its economic fallout.

The dollar, however, barely budged against the yen after robust US non-farm payrolls numbers for January.

The dollar index, which measures the currency against a basket of rivals, edged lower to 98.47.

========================
Open Bid       Rs 154.30
Open Offer     Rs 154.60
========================

RUPEE IN LAHORE: The Pak rupee showed stability on buying side while it lost 5-paisa on selling side in relation to the greenback in the local currency market on Saturday.

According to the currency dealers, the dollar resumed trading at its day earlier closing of

Rs 154.10 and Rs154.45 as its buying and selling rate, respectively. The dollar did not observe any change in its buying rate that remained unchanged at Rs 154.10. However, following buyers' interest, the dollar's selling rate moved up and ended at Rs 154.50, the dealers said.

The rupee maintained upward slide for another day and appreciated its worth against the pound sterling. The pound's buying and selling rate declined from previous closing of Rs 198.50 and Rs 200.00 to Rs 197.60 and Rs 199.00, respectively, they added.

RUPEE IN ISLAMABAD AND RAWALPINDI: The rupee-dollar parity remained unchanged at the open currency markets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi here on Saturday.

The dollar opened at Rs 154.60 (buying) and Rs 154.70 (selling) against same last rate.

It closed at Rs 154.60 (buying) and Rs 154.70 (selling). The buying and selling rates of one tola of gold were Rs 91,500 (selling) and Rs 91,200 (buying) in the local Sarafa (gold) markets of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.