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The rupee rallied 76 paise to end stronger at 65.24 against the dollar on Friday on higher capital inflows and announcement of possible steps to reduce the fuel import bill. The rupee was highest since August 26.
Extending its previous session’s positive sentiment, the domestic unit opened 8 paise higher against the greenback at 65.92 from Thursday’s close of 66 per dollar.
It had declined to 66.31 in the morning trade due to mild capital outflows as market investors remained wary of the US non-farm payrolls data. The positive data, which was released post market hours, is likely to strengthen the American dollar.
However, the rupee recovered and surged to 65.00 against the dollar on the continued sentiments from reversal of capital control measures and positive domestic equity markets.
The BSE-benchmark Sensex ended 290.30 points higher (or 1.53 per cent) at 19,270.06 on foreign institutional investors pumping capital flows into the market.
In addition, higher credit growth in the banking system for August released by the Reserve Bank of India also supported the sentiment.
The surge in rupee on Thursday was on the back of announcements made by the new RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan on the first day of assuming charge.
Capital-control measures
The RBI, on Wednesday post market hours, had partially rolled back some of the capital flow curbs imposed in August. Relaxing the limit on outward investments, the apex bank said a company will be allowed to invest up to 400 per cent (from 100 per cent earlier) of its networth provided it has raised the funds through external commercial borrowings (ECBs).
The central bank also opened a special concessional window for swapping foreign currency non-resident banks (FCNR (B)) deposits for three years at a fixed rate of 3.5 per cent per annum. This boosted the market confidence on Thursday.
Call rates, G-Secs
The inter-bank call money rate, the rate at which banks borrow money from each other to meet their short-term fund requirements, ended lower at 10.15 per cent from its previous close of 10.25 per cent.
The 7.16 per cent government bond, which matures in 2023, closed weaker at Rs 90.45 from Thursday’s close of Rs 91.75. Yields hardened to 8.63 per cent from 8.42 per cent.
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