Currency: Rupee steady against dollar

The rupee ended at 105.32/105.37 against the dollar in the interbank market on Thursday, compared to Wednesday’s close of 105.33/105.38. Heavy debt repayments to the IMF have dented the central bank’s reserves, which have declined significantly, putting pressure on the rupee. Fresh repayment of $109 million was made on December 30. Overseas Pakistanis sent home a record $13.92 billion in the previous fiscal year (July 2012-June 2013), a growth of 5.56% or $733.64 million compared with $13.187 billion a year earlier. According to data provided by the State Bank of Pakistan, overseas Pakistanis remitted $5.275 billion between July and October this year. Overnight rates in the money market remained flat at 10.00 percent.


Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st,  2014.