Currency: Rupee weaker in interbank market

KARACHI: The rupee ended weaker at 104.88/104.95 against the dollar in the interbank market on Friday compared to Thursday’s close of 104.84/104.89. Heavy debt repayments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have dented the central bank’s reserves, which have declined significantly, putting pressure on the rupee. Pakistan paid the 28th loan installment of $149 million to the IMF on February 18. According to data provided by the State Bank of Pakistan, overseas Pakistanis remitted $9.033 billion between July and January of the current fiscal year. They had 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. Overnight rates in the money market fell to 7.50% from Thursday’s close of 8.25%.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2014.

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