Rupee surges 30 paise vs USD; rises to 2-week high at 63.74

Extending its gains for the second straight day, the rupee surged by 30 paise on Tuesday against the American currency to hit a two-week high at 63.74 on selling of the greenback by banks and exporters on the back of lower dollar in the overseas market. Fresh foreign capital inflows into equity market also boosted the rupee value against the dollar, a forex dealer said. They bought shares worth Rs 350.41 crore yesterday as per the provisional figure issued by stock exchanges.

The rupee resumed lower at 64.09 per dollar as against the yesterday's closing level of 64.04 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market on initial dollar demand from banks on the back of overnight gains in the US market. However, it recovered immediately to end at 63.74, showing a gain of 30 paise or 0.47 percent. It has gained by 39 paise or 0.61 percent in two days.

The domestic unit moved in a range of 64.10 and 63.74 per dollar during the day. The dollar index was down by 0.15 percent against a basket of six currencies in the late afternoon trade. Oil prices edged up in Asian trade following a 5 percent fall in the previous session as high global production and a weakening economic outlook, especially in Asia, prompted analysts to caution further falls.

In New York, the dollar finished the first trading session of the month higher against its main rivals, retaining gains from the early session despite a disappointing reading of the US manufacturing in July. Meanwhile, the benchmark 30-share index snapped its four-day wining spree and tumbled by 115.13 points 0.41 percent today.