THE RUPEE: rates firm

25 Aug, 2019

The rupee held the overnight levels against the dollar on the money market on Saturday in the process of trading, dealers said. The rupee held the overnight levels in relation to the dollar for buying and selling at Rs 157.30 and Rs 157.80 respectively, dealers said. The rupee, however, fell sharply against the euro for buying and selling at Rs 173.50 and Rs 175.50 respectively, they said.
Powell will address the Jackson Hole symposium of central bankers at 1400 GMT on Friday, and traders are waiting to see how closely he allies himself with the hawks within the Fed.
Currency markets have in recent months been driven by a shift at global central banks to looser monetary policy as economic demand slows and trade disputes intensify.
Expectations that the Fed will cut rates at its next meeting in September have been fully priced into interest rate futures, but the currency market is likely to react if Powell's comments do not match the dovish expectations. Money markets price in at least two rate cuts of 25 basis points this year.



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Open Bid Rs.157.30
Open Offer Rs.157.80
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According to the currency dealers, the dollar resumed trading on a depressed note and remained under selling pressure that helped rupee's recovery. At close of trading, the dollar ended further lower at Rs 156.80 and Rs 157.90 on buying and selling counter against the Friday closing of Rs 157.50 and Rs 158.30, respectively.
However, the rupee remained weak and registered decline against the pound sterling. The pound's buying and selling rate improved from the overnight closing of Rs 190.50 and Rs 191.50 to Rs 191.20 and Rs 192.50, respectively, the dealers said.
The dollar opened at Rs 158.15(buying) and Rs 158.25(selling) against last rate of Rs 158.10(buying) and Rs 158.20(selling).
It closed at Rs 158.15(buying) and Rs 158.25(selling).
The buying and selling rates of one tola of gold remained as Rs 89,000(selling) and Rs 89,800(buying) in the local Sarafa (gold) markets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

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