Currency: Rupee falls against dollar

KARACHI: The rupee inched closer to its record low on Tuesday on increased payments for imports, and dealers expect the pressure to continue because of a widening current account deficit. The rupee ended at 89.95/90.00 to the dollar, weaker than Monday’s close of 89.39/44. The rupee hit a record low of 90.03 last week. “The sentiment is quite negative and the rupee is likely to depreciate further,” said a bank dealer. The country’s current account deficit stood at $2.104 billion in July to November compared with $589 million in the same period a year earlier. The deficit is likely to widen further in the coming months because of debt repayments and a lack of external aid.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2011.