Currency comes very close to falling below key 54-level, ends not far from record low of 54.30 hit mid-December
Ratings of Axis, ICICI & HDFC Bank cut due to significant direct exposure to government securities
Consensus among members at April policy meet that rupee be allowed to depreciate
Closes at 53.96 a dollar just three trading days after Wednesday?s previous record low of 53.83 dealers see 54 level breached soon
Intraday rupee firms further
Forex reserves can now pay for just six months of imports, limiting the RBI's ammunition to defend the currency
Bank also announces benefit of 0.25% on the card rate for existing customers with satisfactory track record
May have sold $500 mn after currency breached 54/$