Rupee trims initial gains, still up 18 paise

The Rupee failed to maintain initial gains, but was still quoted higher by 18 paise to Rs. 54.50 per dollar on bouts of buying and selling transactions from banks and exporters.

The rupee resumed higher at Rs. 54.42 per dollar as against Tuesday’s closing level of Rs. 54.68 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market and moved up further to Rs. 54.31.

However, it failed to maintain its initial gains and dropped to Rs. 54.54 per dollar before quoting Rs. 54.50 at 1050 hrs on renewed demand for the U.S. currency.

The rupee moved in a range of 54.31 and 54.54 per dollar during the morning deals.

Persistent foreign capital inflows into equity market are still supporting the rupee sentiment, a dealer said.

Meanwhile, the Indian benchmark BSE-30 index, Sensex, rose by 150.80 points, or 0.77 per cent, to 19,731.61 at 1100 hrs.

In the overseas market, the dollar ruled strong against the other currencies as US lawmakers passed a bill to avoid the “fiscal cliff,” bolstering investors’ appetite for risky assets.