Rupee firms on exporter dollar sales

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee ended firmer for a third straight session yesterday, pulling further away from a record closing low hit earlier this week, as some exporters sold dollars, dealers said. 

The rupee, which traded at 154.17/25 during the day, ended at 154.27/35 per dollar yesterday, compared with Thursday’s close of 154.35/45. 

The spot rupee had hit an all-time closing low of 154.60/70 per dollar on Tuesday, hurt by dollar demand from banks and importers. 

“It was a dull day. There was some exporter (dollar) selling at the latter part of the day,” said a currency dealer. 

The rupee held steady compared to last week, but has fallen 0.6 percent so far this year, Thomson Reuters data showed. 

Dealers said they expected the currency to be pressured by continued importer dollar demand. 

They expect 2-3 percent depreciation in the rupee and higher volatility this year on account of debt repayment by the government. The rupee fell 2.5 percent last year and 3.9 percent in 2016. 

President Maithripala Sirisena’s administration must repay an estimated Rs.1.97 trillion (US$12.85 billion) in 2018 - a record high - including US$2.9 billion of foreign loans and a total of US$5.36 billion in interest. 

Foreign investors bought Rs.5.9 billion worth of government securities this year up to Jan. 30, Central Bank data showed.