Rupee at two-week low; bonds extend fall, call rates recover

The rupee lost 10 paise on Thursday to close at two-week low of 61.93 against the dollar on fresh dollar demand from importers. A steep fall in dollar abroad, amid signs of continued capital inflows restricted the rupee decline, a forex dealer said. At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market here, the domestic unit resumed lower at 61.95 a dollar from previous close of 61.83.

Government bonds prices continued their slide for the third day on consistent unwinding from banks and corporates amid speculation that interest rates could stay higher ahead of the RBI monetary policy review next week.

The 8.83 per cent 10-year benchmark bond maturing in 2023 dropped to Rs 101.0550 from Rs 101.43 yesterday, while its yield rose to 8.67 per cent from 8.61 per cent. The overnight call money rate finished higher at 8.10 per cent from 6.85 per cent on Wednesday.

It moved in a wide range of 8.30 per cent and 7.50 per cent.