Rupee Clocks Best Day In Over Five Years, Gains 1.55% On Crude Slide
Rupee settled at 70.44 versus dollar as softening crude oil prices eased concerns over current account deficit expansion.
The rupee on Tuesday rallied 111 paise, its best single-day gain in over five years. It settled at 70.45 against the U.S. dollar as softening crude oil prices eased concerns over India's current account deficit expansion.
Besides, sustained selling of the American currency by exporters and banks as well as the greenback's weakness against its key rivals globally ahead of the U.S. Fed policy decision on Wednesday aided the domestic unit scale further heights.
The Brent crude, an international benchmark, was trading 2.26 percent lower at $58.26 per barrel, a 14-month low.
At the Interbank Foreign Exchange market, the rupee opened on a firm note at 71.34. It gained further ground to hit a high of 70.44, a massive climb of 112 paise over its previous closing.
The Indian currency had gained 35 paise to close at 71.55 versus the dollar on Monday. The Tuesday's 111 paise ascent marked the best day for the rupee since Sept. 19, 2013, when it had surged 161 paise against the U.S. dollar.
Foreign exchange dealers said a drop in bond yields easing liquidity concerns in the market and bullish trend in equities trading also supported the rupee in maintaining its upward movement.
The benchmark Sensex on Tuesday wiped off early losses to end 77 points higher at 36,347, the sixth consecutive session of gains. The broader NSE Nifty edged higher by over 20 points to end above the 10,900-mark.
The Financial Benchmark India Private Ltd. set the reference rate for the rupee/dollar at 71.1940 and for rupee/euro at 80.7554. The reference rate for rupee/British pound was fixed at 89.8829 and for rupee/100 Japanese yen at 63.21.