Rupee Edges Lower To 74.94 Against Dollar Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases

Rupee Vs Dollar Rate: At the interbank foreign exchange market, the domestic unit opened at 75.25 against the American currency and traded in the range of 74.82 to 75.26

After a weak opening session, the rupee edged lower by six paise against the US dollar on Thursday, April 22, to settle at 74.94 (provisional), as the relentless rise in COVID-19 infections and new restrictions on mobility weighed on investor sentiment. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the domestic unit opened at 75.25 against the American currency and traded in the range of 74.82 to 75.26 through the session. In an early trade session, the local unit fell below 75 per dollar. The rupee settled at 74.94 against the greenback, registering a decline of six paise over the previous close. On Tuesday, April 20, the local unit had settled at 74.88 against the dollar. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, slipped 0.07 per cent to 91.09. On Wednesday, April 21, forex and equity markets were closed on account of Ram Navami.  ''With RBI keeping a control on weakness in rupee one may ask exporters to sell near to 75.30 levels as this level has come three times in the last two weeks. Importers may wait for better levels to buy dollars while they may buy cash near to 74.90 levels,'' said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head- Treasury, Finrex Treasury Advisors.  ''A slide in the rupee is exacerbating a slump in Indian corporate dollar notes that are now among the worst performers in Asia, the weaker rupee pushes up servicing costs on foreign debt. The currency has plunged about 2.4 per cent against the dollar this month, USDINR Spot has given a breakout above 75.00 level indicating for a bullish momentum up to 75.68-75.85 in the coming session,'' said Kshitij Purohit, Product Manager, Currency and Commodities at CapitalVia Global Research Limited.