Rupee Slips 24 Paise Against Dollar After US Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rates

The rupee on Thursday depreciated by 24 paise to 70.63 in early trade on the forex market amid strengthening American currency and weak opening in domestic equities. Forex traders said strength in the US dollar against some currencies overseas weighed on the local unit. However, fresh foreign fund inflows and easing crude prices capped the losses for the domestic unit. Government bonds also fell, halting a two-day advance after monetary policy committee sounded hawkish in minutes released on Wednesday of its December 5.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange, the rupee opened on a weak note at 70.63 against the US dollar, showing a decline of 24 paise over it's previous closing. On Wednesday, the rupee had settled 5 paise higher at 70.39 against the US dollar.    

Foreign funds bought shares worth Rs 1,209.21 crore from the capital markets on a net basis Wednesday, while domestic institutional investors sold shares worth Rs 481.46 crore, provisional data showed. The global benchmark, brent crude oil was trading at $56.49 per barrel, lower by 1.31 per cent. Meanwhile, domestic equity market opened on a weaker note.

The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex, was trading at 36,305.11, down 179.22 points in early trade. The wide-based Nifty was also trading lower by 51.95 points at 10,915.35.

Bond traders also booked profit after the sharp rally earlier this week, following soft crude prices and easing inflation.