Rupee bounces back by 12 paise vs USD

Mumbai, April 29: The rupee gained 12 paise to close at 54.25 against the US currency, on fresh selling of dollars by banks and exporters amid firm equity markets.

Persistent foreign capital inflows into equity markets amidst weakness of dollar overseas also supported the domestic currency, dealers said.

The rupee resumed higher at 54.35 per dollar as against the last closing level of 54.37 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market.

It hovered in a range of 54.21 per dollar and 54.39 per dollar before ending at 54.25 per dollar - a gain of 12 paise or 0.22 per cent.

Banks and exporters preferred to reduce their dollar position on the back of sustained foreign capital inflows into equity market coupled with weakness of dollar in the global market, a forex dealer said.

In the international market, the US dollar fell further in early trade on Monday, losing further steam in the wake of Fridays weaker-than-expected economic-growth number and caution ahead of what is expected to be a busy week of data and monetary-policy decisions.

The BSE benchmark Sensex recovered by 101 points or 0.52 per cent to finish at 19,387.50.

The premium for the forward dollar declined further on sustained receipts by exporters.

The benchmark six-month forward dollar premium payable in September finished lower at 151-152 paise as against the last weekend's level of 154-1/2-156 paise and far-forward contracts maturing in March also ended down at 314-1/2-316-1/2 paise from 321-323 paise previously.

The Reserve Bank fixed the reference rate for the US dollar at 54.2770 and for the euro at 70.9030.

The rupee continued to remain weak against pound sterling and ended at 84.22 from the last 84.07 previously also fell against against the euro to 70.98 as against 70.70 on last Friday.

It finished lower against the Japanese yen to 55.49 per 100 yen from last weekend's level of 55.07.