Tag: Inter-bank Market

  • Pakistani rupee strengthens by 5 paisa, closes at PKR 281.67 against US dollar

    Pakistani rupee strengthens by 5 paisa, closes at PKR 281.67 against US dollar

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) demonstrated a 5.08 paisa appreciation against the US dollar during Thursday’s interbank session, concluding at PKR 281.67 per USD, compared to the previous closing at PKR 281.72 per US dollar (USD).

    Throughout the day, the currency reached an intraday high (bid) of Rs281.84 and a low (ask) of Ra281.8. In the open market, Exchange Companies quoted the dollar at Rs281 for buying and Rs283 for selling.

    It’s noteworthy that the local unit concluded its 13-day historic winning streak against the greenback in the first trading session of 2024, experiencing a modest depreciation of 3.37 paisa against the US dollar.

    In contrast to major currencies, PKR gained 56.27 paisa against the Euro, closing at Rs308.07 compared to the previous value of Rs308.63. 

    The British Pound saw an increase of Rs1.25, concluding at Rs357.49 compared to Rs356.24 from the previous day.

    The Swiss franc recorded gains of 75.99 paisa, closing at Ra332.01 compared to Rs331.25 from the previous session. 

    Against the Japanese Yen, PKR gained 1.18 paisa, closing at 1.964 versus 1.9758 a day ago. The Chinese Yuan lost 4.96 paisa, closing at 39.38 against 39.43 from the previous session. 

    The Saudi Riyal closed at 75.1 with a loss of 1.75 paisa from its values of 75.12 a day ago, and the U.A.E Dirham decreased by 1.28 paisa from 76.69 to 76.71.

    In the current financial year, PKR has appreciated against the Dollar by 4.32 rupees or 1.53 per cent, while the current calendar year has seen PKR appreciate by 18.73 paisa or 0.07 per cent. 

    In the money market, the benchmark 6 Month Karachi Interbank Bid and Offer rates decreased by 6 bps to 21.16 and 21.41 per cent.

  • Interbank closing: Pakistani rupee resumes winning streak against US dollar

    Interbank closing: Pakistani rupee resumes winning streak against US dollar

    The Pakistani rupee exhibited resilience against the US dollar in the inter-bank market, marking a 0.06 per cent gain on Wednesday, reaching a settlement of Rs281.72, reflecting an increase of Re0.17, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). 

    This positive momentum follows a slight dip on Tuesday, when the rupee settled at Rs281.89 against the US dollar.

    Meanwhile, on the international front, the US dollar experienced a broad ascent on Wednesday, hovering near a two-week high against major peers. 

    This surge is attributed to various factors, including elevated US Treasury yields and a cautious shift in risk sentiment that impacted Wall Street.

    In another significant development, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is poised to implement stringent measures targeting non-filers during the current month. 

    The initial phase involves the blocking of mobile SIM cards and mobile phones for non-filers, with the issuance of the Income Tax General Order expected by January 15. 

    The FBR is also formulating a strategy to disconnect electricity and gas connections for non-filers, acknowledging a current lack of comprehensive data on the electricity connections of non-filers.

  • Pakistani rupee ends 2023 with marginal gain versus US dollar

    Pakistani rupee ends 2023 with marginal gain versus US dollar

    Pakistani rupee demonstrated a slight appreciation against the US dollar for the 13th consecutive session, marking a gain of 0.02 per cent in the inter-bank market on Friday.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the day concluded with the rupee settling at Rs281.86, reflecting an increase of Rs0.07.

    Remarkably, this signifies a closure of 2023 with the rupee undergoing a depreciation of 19.7 per cent, originating from its starting point at Rs226.43 against the US dollar in the inter-bank market at the beginning of the year. 

    Notably, on the preceding Thursday, the rupee experienced a marginal upturn, settling at Rs281.93 against the US dollar.

    A significant development unfolded as the foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan observed a substantial weekly upswing, surging by $852 million to reach $7.75 billion as of December 22, according to data released on Thursday. 

    The overall liquid foreign reserves for the country tallied at $12.85 billion, with commercial banks holding net foreign reserves amounting to $5.1 billion. The SBP attributed this surge in reserves to official government inflows.

    On the global stage, the US dollar appeared poised to conclude 2023 with a loss, reversing a two-year trend of gains. This shift was influenced by market expectations that the US Federal Reserve might initiate rate easing as early as March of the following year. 

    The greenback remained generally subdued on the last trading day of the year, hovering near a five-month low against a basket of currencies, falling 0.02 per cent to 101.18, following a recent dip to 100.61. 

    This trend underscored the impact of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate-hike cycle initiated in early 2022 on the dollar’s trajectory over the past two years.

  • Pakistani rupee gains ground against US dollar for 11th consecutive session

    Pakistani rupee gains ground against US dollar for 11th consecutive session

    The Pakistani rupee sustained its upward trajectory against the US dollar for the 11th consecutive session, exhibiting a 0.06 per cent appreciation in the interbank market on Wednesday. 

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee concluded at Rs282.20, reflecting an increment of Re0.17.

    In the preceding session on Tuesday, the rupee had achieved a marginal gain, settling at Rs282.37 in relation to the US dollar. 

    Concurrently, there has been a notable surge of 200 per cent in the cumulative borrowing by the federal and provincial governments for budgetary support from the domestic banking system in the current fiscal year (FY24).

    Internationally, the US dollar encountered continued pressure on Wednesday, while the euro flirted with a four-month pinnacle. 

    This trend emerged as market expectations of an imminent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve gained traction. The restrained week, marked by global holiday absences until the New Year, is anticipated to witness subdued trading volumes.

    The dollar index, gauging the US currency against six counterparts, stood at 101.54, just below the five-month low of 101.42 recorded last week. 

    The index is poised for a 1.9 per cent decline in 2023, following two consecutive years of robust gains driven by the Fed’s rate hikes to combat inflation. 

    The recent weakening of the dollar is attributed to market anticipation of forthcoming rate cuts by the Fed in the coming year, diminishing the allure of the greenback.

  • PKR records eighth consecutive gain, closes at Rs282.79 vs dollar

    PKR records eighth consecutive gain, closes at Rs282.79 vs dollar

    In a notable financial trend, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) sustained its positive trajectory against the US dollar (USD) for the eighth consecutive session, witnessing a 0.04 per cent appreciation in the interbank market on Thursday.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee concluded at Rs282.79 after experiencing a rise of Re0.11.

    The preceding day saw a slight uptick in the PKR’s value, settling at Rs282.9 against the US dollar. 

    A significant development unfolded as the government successfully secured a historic amount of Rs397 billion ($1.4 billion) in Wednesday’s local currency bond auction. 

    This achievement surpassed expectations, marking the highest borrowing in years within a single auction, showcasing sustained market interest even as December draws to a close.

    The substantial participation of investors underscores their confidence in long-term bonds, fueled by the anticipation of an early 2024 rate cut. 

    The government strategically opted for long-term borrowing in response, effectively mitigating rollover risks and minimisingreliance on short-term funding in the future.

    On the global front, the US dollar regained strength on Thursday, prompted by a sudden end to a robust rally for US stocks, compelling investors to seek safety. 

    In the final hour of equities trade on Wall Street, heavy selling induced a ripple of risk aversion through markets, lifting the previously under-pressure greenback from lows.

    As of early Asia trade on Thursday, the dollar index, which is down 1 per cent for the year so far, remained steady at 102.37. 

    In a comparison with major currencies, the Pakistani currency strengthened by 69.15 paisa against the Euro, concluding at Rs309.57 as opposed to the previous rate of Rs310.26. 

    The British Pound saw a reduction in value of 79.58 paisa, settling at Rs357.41 in comparison to the previous day’s Rs358.21.

    However, PKR experienced a slight decline of 0.38 paisa against the Japanese yen, closing at Rs1.974 as compared to the previous day’s rate of Rs1.97. 

    The Saudi Riyal concluded at Rs75.38, registering a decrease of 1.15 paisa from its value of Rs75.39 a day ago. 

    Similarly, the UAE Dirham witnessed a decrease in value of 2.81 paisa, shifting from Rs77.027 the previous day to Rs76.999.

    Meanwhile, oil prices, a crucial indicator of currency parity, experienced a decline on Thursday due to concerns over low demand following an unexpected US crude inventory build, outweighing apprehensions about global trade disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. 

    Brent crude futures dropped by 3 cents to $79.67 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude stood at $74.16 a barrel, reflecting a 6-cent decrease.

  • 7th consecutive gain: Pakistani rupee closes at Rs282.9 against US dollar

    7th consecutive gain: Pakistani rupee closes at Rs282.9 against US dollar

    In a persistent surge, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) continued its upward trend against the US dollar (USD) for the seventh consecutive session, appreciating by 0.04 per cent in the inter-bank market on Wednesday.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the PKR concluded at Rs282.9, marking an increase of Rs0.11.

    In the open market scenario, the PKR experienced a decline of 25 paisa for both buying and selling against the USD, settling at Rs281.50 and Rs284.50, respectively.

    Conversely, against the Euro, the PKR maintained stability for both buying and selling, closing at Rs307.00 and Rs310.00, respectively.

    Against the UAE dirham, the PKR held steady for both buying and selling, concluding at Rs77.30 and Rs78.00, respectively.

    In comparison, against the Saudi Riyal, the PKR saw a gain of 10 paisa for both buying and selling, closing at Rs75.20 and Rs75.90, respectively.

    This positive trend follows Tuesday’s marginal gain, where the rupee settled at Rs283.01 against the US dollar.

    The dollar index, which experienced a slight dip on Tuesday, maintaining a mostly flat position at 102.20, had previously reached a four-month low of 101.76 last week.

    In the backdrop of global trade concerns and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces conducting attacks on ships in the Red Sea, oil prices surged past $80 a barrel on Wednesday.

    Brent crude futures observed an 89-cent increase, or 1.1 per cent, reaching $80.12 a barrel by 1101 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 93 cents, or 1.3 per cent, to $74.87 a barrel.

  • Pakistani rupee gains 20 paisa against US dollar

    Pakistani rupee gains 20 paisa against US dollar

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) extended its positive trajectory against the US dollar for the sixth consecutive session, appreciating by 0.07 per cent in the inter-bank market on Tuesday.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee concluded at Rs283.01, marking an increase of Re0.20.

    In the previous session, the rupee saw a marginal gain, settling at Rs283.21 against the US dollar.

    Meanwhile, in a noteworthy development, Pakistan secured $4.285 billion from various financing sources in the first five months (July–November) of the current fiscal year 2023–24.

    This represents a decrease from the $5.114 billion borrowed during the corresponding period in 2022–23, as disclosed by data from the Economic Affairs Division (EAD).

    On the global front, the US dollar experienced a 0.3 per cent decline against the yen, maintaining its position close to a four-month high of 140.95 reached last week.

    Additionally, the greenback lingered near approximately five-month lows against the Australian and New Zealand dollars.

    This was attributed to the strength of risk-sensitive currencies, driven by the anticipation that the US Federal Reserve might initiate interest rate adjustments as early as the beginning of next year.

    In the realm of commodities, oil prices stabilised on Tuesday as investors assessed the potential repercussions on oil supply arising from attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants on ships in the Red Sea.

    These attacks have disrupted maritime trade, compelling companies to reroute vessels. Notably, crude prices surged nearly 2 per cent on Monday due to concerns about trade disruptions through the Suez Canal, a vital shipping route that accounts for approximately 15 per cent of global shipping traffic.

    Brent crude declined by 12 cents to $77.83 per barrel.

    The US West Texas Intermediate crude for January, set to expire on Tuesday, experienced a decrease of 62 cents, reaching $71.85. In contrast, the more active February contract only incurred a marginal loss of 3 cents.

  • Pakistani rupee appreciates 0.02% against US dollar to close at Rs283.21

    Pakistani rupee appreciates 0.02% against US dollar to close at Rs283.21

    In a continuing upward trend, the Pakistani rupee demonstrated resilience in the inter-bank market by securing gains against the US dollar for the fifth consecutive session, appreciating by 0.02 per cent on Monday.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee closed at Rs283.21, marking an increase of Re0.05.

    Throughout the preceding week, the rupee exhibited a noteworthy appreciation, gaining Re0.61 or 0.21 per cent to settle at Rs283.26 against the US dollar in the inter-bank market.

    This marks the fifth consecutive week of the rupee’s advancement against the dollar, a momentum attributed to the recent announcement of a staff-level agreement (SLA) between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concerning the first review of the $3 billion Stand-by Arrangement (SBA).

    Since the revelation of the SLA on November 15, the local currency has strengthened by Rs4.88, or 1.7 per cent, against the greenback.

    Meanwhile, on a global scale, currencies commenced the week with caution following significant fluctuations in the previous week, driven by various central bank meetings, including rate decisions from the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank (ECB), and the Bank of England (BoE).

    The greenback, which had been bolstered throughout most of 2022 and 2023 by aggressive rate hikes from the Fed and expectations of prolonged higher rates, experienced a notable decline of approximately 1.3 per cent against a basket of currencies last week in response to the outcomes of the Fed’s policy meeting.

  • PKR gains ground against US dollar, closes at Rs283.26

    PKR gains ground against US dollar, closes at Rs283.26

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) continued its positive trajectory against the US dollar (USD) for the fourth consecutive session, appreciating by 0.09 per cent in the inter-bank market on Friday.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee concluded at Rs283.26, reflecting an increase of Re0.25.

    Thursday witnessed a marginal gain in the rupee, settling at Rs283.51 against the US dollar.

    The ongoing optimism is buoyed by the recently released trade figures for November, revealing a noteworthy 13.16 per cent month-over-month (MoM) and a substantial 31.72 per cent year-over-year (YoY) reduction in the trade deficit, amounting to $1.89 billion.

    Export figures exhibited a robust 7.66 per cent YoY surge, reaching $2.57 billion, while imports saw a YoY decline of 14.47 per cent, totaling $4.46 billion.

    On the global front, the US dollar remained near four-month lows on Friday, influenced by the increasing likelihood of US interest rate cuts in the coming year.

    Conversely, the euro and pound found support as their respective central banks reiterated the necessity for sustained higher interest rates.

    Amid an eventful week for central banks, clarity emerged regarding the potential timing of interest rate cuts following Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s statement during Wednesday’s meeting.

    Powell suggested that the tightening of monetary policy is likely concluding, with discussions about cuts coming “into view.”

    The Fed’s projections imply a 75-basis-point cut next year from the current level, leading to a broad decline of the greenback against its counterparts.

    The dollar index stands at 102.05, not far from the four-month low of 101.76 observed on Thursday, marking a 1.9 per cent decrease and its most significant weekly decline since July.

    Oil prices, a pivotal indicator of currency dynamics, saw an increase on Friday, set to achieve their first weekly rise in two months.

    This positive shift is attributed to a bullish forecast from the International Energy Agency (IEA) regarding oil demand for the upcoming year, coupled with a weaker dollar.

    Brent futures rose by 21 cents to $76.82 a barrel at 0918 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also experienced a 21-cent climb, reaching $71.79.

  • Interbank closing: Pakistani rupee gains 10 paisa against US dollar

    Interbank closing: Pakistani rupee gains 10 paisa against US dollar

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) demonstrated resilience for the third consecutive session against the US dollar (USD), marking a 0.04 per cent appreciation in the interbank market on Thursday, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    The PKR settled at Rs283.51 after an increase of Rs0.10. This positive trend follows Wednesday’s marginal gain, where the rupee settled at Rs283.61 against the USD.

    In contrast to major currencies, the local currency experienced a loss of Rs2.64 against the Euro, closing at Rs308.49 compared to the previous value of Rs305.85.

    The British Pound strengthened by Rs2.91, concluding at Rs357.96 in comparison to Rs355.05 from the preceding day.

    The Swiss franc also witnessed gain of Rs1.46, closing at 325.35 compared to Rs323.89 in the previous session.

    Against the Japanese yen, PKR lost 5.23 paisa, settling at Rs1.9972 versus Rs1.9449 a day ago.

    In the ongoing financial year, the PKR has appreciated against the dollar by Rs2.48, or 0.87 per cent.

    However, in the current calendar year, it has depreciated by Rs57.08, or 20.13 per cent.

    In a related development, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in its latest report, Asian Development Outlook (ADO), highlighted that Pakistan’s overall recovery is still constrained by moderate confidence and high inflation eroding purchasing power.

    The ADB noted that Pakistan’s inflation rate averaged 28.5 per cent over July–October but is expected to ease amid fiscal consolidation, monetary tightening, and improved availability of food and key imported inputs.