Mumbai: The Indian rupee closed near two-week lower against the US dollar, tracking losses in the local equity and Asian currencies markets before the release of US jobs data due later on Friday.
The rupee closed at 64.37 a dollar—a level last seen on 24 April, down 0.31%, its steepest fall since 10 April, from its Thursday’s close of 64.17. The rupee opened at 64.23 a dollar and touched a high and a low of 64.23 and 64.39 respectively.
Traders are also cautious as US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen and at least five other central bank officials are scheduled to speak on Friday and ahead of the French presidential election on Sunday.
The benchmark Sensex index fell 0.89% or 267.41 points to closed at 29,858.80. So far this year, it has risen 12.5%.
So far this year, the rupee has gained 5.53%, while foreign investors bought $6.29 billion and $7.61 billion in local equity and debt markets, respectively.
The 10-year bond yield closed at 6.943% compared to its previous close of 6.968%. Bond yields and prices move in opposite directions.
Asian currencies were trading lower. South Korean won was down 0.64%, Singapore dollar 0.38%, Malaysian ringgit 0.26%, China Offshore 0.19%, Thai Baht 0.16%, Philippines peso 0.14%, Taiwan dollar 0.1%, China renminbi 0.08%.
The dollar index, which measures the US currency’s strength against major currencies, was trading at 98.904, up 0.11% from its previous close of 98.797.