Rupee likely to strengthen marginally against US dollar next week

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Web Desk
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The rupee closed the year at Rs159.83 in the interbank market. Photo: Geo. tv/File
  • The rupee is expected to be supported by the sluggish demand for the greenback from importers.
  • The rupee ended an all-time low of 168.43 against the dollar on August 26, 2020.
  • A struggling dollar in the global markets led to the appreciation of the domestic currency’s value in the last quarter of 2020.


KARACHI: The rupee is expected to strengthen marginally or remain stable against the dollar next week, The News reported, quoting traders on Sunday.

According to the traders, the rupee will be supported by the sluggish demand for the greenback from importers and positive sentiments due to strong growth in exports.

“The local unit could hover around the same level during the first week of 2021, or appreciate slightly, owing to the lower import payments. The exports and remittances are good, so the sentiment is for a strong rupee,” a foreign exchange trader said.

Compared with the start of the year, the rupee closed the year at Rs159.83 in the interbank market, depreciating 3%, however, significantly stronger than the record low trading of 169.50 on March 27.

Rupee ended an all-time low in August 2020

The rupee ended at an all-time low of Rs168.43 against the dollar on August 26, 2020.

Experts suggest that significant growth in remittances, higher exports, strong foreign exchange reserves, and increased inflows from multilateral sources contributed to the rise in the rupee’s value at the close of the year.

Read more: US dollar rate remains unchanged against rupee on January 3

Moreover, the provisional figures shared by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood in a tweet showed that Exports increased 18.3% to $2.357 billion in December from $1.993 billion a year ago.

The rupee’s strength has also been supported by a lower import bill – the slowdown in international oil prices and the rescheduling of debt.

Analysts expect the rupee to stay stable in 2021

Meanwhile, a struggling dollar in the global markets led to the appreciation of the domestic currency’s value in the last quarter of 2020.

Analysts expect the rupee to stay stable with slight depreciation against the dollar in 2021.

“I expect the rupee to remain stable and show only marginal devaluation if any,” said Saad Hashemy, an executive director at BMA Capital.

“This is because of strong remittances, a promising start of the Roshan Digital initiative, healthy growth in exports in recent months, and REER [Real Effective Exchange Rate], which is below 100 and showing that PKR is currently undervalued,” Hashemy added.

Moreover, the report highlights that the Roshan Digital Account initiative anticipates bringing in another $1.2 billion in 2021 (having clocked in about $200 million last year).

Underscoring the many factors that can go in the favour of the rupee, bank treasurers stressed that the role of inflation rate differential with the country’s trading partners and the higher fiscal deficit cannot be overlooked.

The rupee could trade at 158 levels in the first quarter of 2021 after which a gradual weakening could be anticipated.

Consumer Price Index inflation has eased to 8% in December from 8.3% during the previous month. However, analysts expect inflation to remain under pressure and may see a peak in May before  it eases again. 

Foreign investment in bonds rose nearly $77 million in the last two months of 2020, showing confidence in the country’s economy. Foreign investors expect interest rates and currency rates to remain stable this year.