Pakistani rupee gains value, now at Rs292.78 per US dollar

The Pakistani rupee’s ascent against the US dollar persisted for the 12th consecutive session in the inter-bank market on Thursday, registering a 0.38 per cent gain.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee settled at 292.78, marking a notable increase of Rs1.1 within the inter-bank market. Just the day before, on Wednesday, the rupee had exhibited a similar upward trend, appreciating by 0.35 per cent and settling at 293.88.

This remarkable turnaround in the rupee’s value follows a recent period of decline, during which it hit a record low of 307.1 in the inter-bank market on September 5.

The transformation in its fortune can be attributed to a series of structural reforms introduced by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) within the Exchange Companies’ (ECs) sector, along with various administrative measures implemented by authorities to combat currency smuggling and hoarding.

On the global stage, the US dollar reached new heights on Thursday, notably against the yen, marking its strongest position since November.

This surge in the dollar’s strength followed a hawkish stance taken by the US Federal Reserve at its recent monetary policy meeting, where it opted to maintain interest rates within the 5.25 per cent–5.50 per cent range.

The Fed’s decision reflected a growing confidence among officials that their assertive monetary policy approach can effectively combat inflation without causing significant economic disruption or substantial job losses.

Conversely, oil prices experienced a decline on Thursday, following the previous session’s significant drop, as expectations of US interest rate hikes overshadowed the impact of reduced US crude stockpiles.