Rupee up 18 p to end at 61.86

Tracking local stocks, the rupee on Tuesday regained 19 paise to end at 61.86 against the dollar as reports of easing geopolitical tension between Russia and Ukraine helped emerging market currencies script a smart recovery. Continued dollar inflow from foreign funds in stocks and selling of the American currency also aided the sentiment, said forex traders.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the domestic unit resumed lower at 62.12 a dollar from previous close of 62.04 and touched a low of 62.15 on initial hesitancy in local shares. It later bounced back to a high of 61.82 before closing at 61.86, a rise of 19 paise or 0.31 per cent.

Bonds recover, call rates end higher
Government securities recovered on renewed buying support from banks and companies. The 8.83 per cent 10-year benchmark bond maturing in 2023 climbed to Rs 99.9375 from Rs 99.50 previously, while its yield moved-down to 8.84 per cent from 8.90 per cent. The overnight call money rate ended higher at 7.10 per cent from 7.00 per cent on Tuesday.