Rupee reverses two-day fall against US dollar, up 8 paise

Weakness in the greenback against other currencies overseas along with a positive closing of local bourses too supported the rupee recovery momentum.

The domestic currency yesterday hit a fresh 16-month low of 68.12 amid weak global cues.

Overall, forex market sentiment improved amid easing of tensions between the US and China over trade tariff issue.

"The rupee rebounded from its previous 16-month low and traded higher against dollar in the morning session on the back of speculation of selling of USD by banks and also as signs of easing tensions between the US and China prompted USD to give away some of its recent gains. However, the rupee's gains were limited as Brent remained stubbornly close to 80," Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Financial Services, said.

Meanwhile, investors turned a bit cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve's May policy meeting minutes release tomorrow even as US bond-yields have stabilised.

In the meantime, global crude prices rose towards the key USD 80 a barrel underpinned by concern that falling Venezuelan crude output and a potential drop in Iranian exports could further tighten global supply.

The Brent crude futures, an international benchmark, was trading higher at USD 79.79 a barrel in early Asian trade.

Reversing a two-day downtrend, the rupee resumed higher at 68.03 against Monday's close of 68.12 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market on fresh dollar unwinding.

It later moved in a tight range of 67.92 and 68.09 most part of the day with positive bias before ending at 68.04, showing a gain of 8 paise, or 0.12 per cent.

The various measures taken by the RBI in conjunction with the government largely helped in restoring stability to the forex market at this juncture, a forex dealer said.

The RBI, meanwhile, fixed the reference rate for the dollar at 68.0187 and for the euro at 80.0716.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year government bond maturing in 2028 held steady at 7.81 per cent.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback's value against a basket of six major currencies, was higher at 93.38.

In the cross currency trade, however, the Indian unit fell back against the pound sterling to finish at 91.51 per pound from 91.41 and also retreated against the Japanese yen to settle at 61.34 per 100 yens as compared to 61.23 earlier.

The home unit remained weak against the euro and closed at 80.34 from 80.10 yesterday.

Elsewhere, the common currency euro is trading little higher against the US currency after recovering from overnight fresh 2018 lows amid prospect of a new coalition government in Italy.

The British pound also regained some lost ground as markets digest the dovish and cautious remarks from the key Bank of England (BOE) policymakers.

In forward market today, premium for dollar finished virtually stable in the absence of any market moving factors.

The benchmark six-month forward premium payable in September and the far-forward February 2019 contract both settled unchanged at 93-95 and 228-230 paise, respectively.