Rupee up 23 p at 61.75 vs $, logs best monthly gain since Oct

The rupee today rose 23 paise to an over five-week closing high of 61.75 against the US dollar on exporters selling the American currency and positive cues from local equities, to clock the best monthly gain since October 2013.
The sentiment in favour of the rupee also firmed up on sustained capital inflows and a sharp fall in dollar traded in the overseas markets, a forex dealer said, adding that downbeat fiscal deficit data failed to temper the enthusiasm.
Government's fiscal deficit in the 10 months through January 2014 has overshot revised estimates of Rs 5.24 lakh crore for this fiscal provided by Finance Minister P Chidambaram in his interim Budget last week. After markets closed, data also showed that the Indian economy grew 4.7 per cent in third quarter ending December 2013.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the domestic currency commenced weak at 62.10 and declined further to a low of 62.14 on month-end dollar demand from importers, mainly oil refiners.
However, it rebounded on renewed dollar selling by exporters and firm local stocks to settle at the day's high of 61.75, showing a rise of 23 paise or 0.37 per cent.
Pramit Brahmbhatt, CEO, Alpari Financial Services (India) said: "Dollar demand from oil importers forced the rupee to depreciate earlier, but in the second session it appreciated with the help of strong local. Also, Euro and Pound gained."

A sluggish dollar overseas boosted the rupee value as the dollar index was down by 0.47 per cent against a basket of six major global rivals, ahead of key economic data.

For the week, the rupee gained 37 paise since ending at 62.12 on February 21. This helped the local currency to wrap up the month, which saw interim budget, with a 93 paise rise. The gain in February is the highest since 110-paise surge logged in October 2013.
The Sensex today closed up over 133 points, or 0.63 per cent. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) injected USD 91.44 million on Wednesday as per Sebi data. Markets were closed on Thursday.