Rupee firm for 6th day vs USD at 66.33, up 2 paise

Extending its rising trend for the sixth straight session, the rupee moved up by 2 paise to 66.33 on persistent selling of dollars by banks and exporters on hopes of resumption of foreign capital inflows.
Weakness of dollar in the overseas market also boosted the rupee value against the dollar.
The Indian rupee resumed higher at 66.30 per dollar as against yesterday's closing level of 66.35 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market.
It moved in a range of 66.35 and 66.27 per dollar during the day before closing at 66.33, showing a marginal gain of two paise or 0.03 per cent.

The rupee has gained by 76 paise or 1.13 per cent in six trading days.
The dollar index was down by 0.12 per cent against a basket of six currencies in the late afternoon trade.

In New York, the euro strengthened against the dollar yesterday as a rout in crude-oil prices resumed, helping support the shared currency at the expense of its emerging- market rivals.
The dollar was largely unchanged against the yen and the euro in thin Asian trade in the afternoon trade today, with fewer participants in the market ahead of the year-end holiday season.
Pramit Brahmbhatt, Veracity Group CEO, said, "The rupee

closed on a positive note at 66.33 levels gaining 2 paise. Today, Nifty lost 48 points on back of selling pressure at higher levels. Trading range for the spot USD/INR pair is expected to be within 66 to 66.75 range."
Meanwhile, the benchmark Sensex ended lower by 145.25 points of 0.56 per cent today.
In forward market today, premium for dollar declined on fresh receivings from exporters.
The benchmark six-month premium payable in May ended lower at 181-183 paise from 187-189 paise yesterday and far forward November 2016 contract also fell to 391-393 paise from 398.5-400.5 paise.
The RBI fixed the reference rate for the dollar at 66.29 and for the euro at 72.33.

In cross-currency trades, the rupee firmed up further against the pound sterling to end at 98.77 from the previous closing level of 98.82 while fell against the Japanese currency to settle at 54.82 from previous close of 54.65 per 100 yen.
It also fell against the euro to 72.55 per euro from 72.12 previously.