Currency: Rupee steady against dollar

KARACHI: The rupee ended steady at 106.57/106.63 against the dollar, compared to Monday’s close of 106.58/106.63. Heavy debt repayments to the IMF have been putting a dent in the central bank’s reserves, which have declined nearly 20% in the current fiscal year, putting pressure on the rupee. The last IMF repayment of $260 million was made on June 28, 2013. Overseas Pakistanis sent home a record $13.920 billion in the previous fiscal year (July 2012-June 2013), showing growth of 5.56% or $733.64 million compared with $13.187 billion a year earlier. Monthly average of remittances for July-May this fiscal year came to $1.16 billion compared to $1.097 billion in the same period a year ago. Overnight rates in the money market decreased to 7.75% from Monday’s close of 8%.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2013.

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