Pakistani rupee extends winning streak against US dollar for 12th straight session

The Pakistani rupee continued its upward trend against the US dollar for the 12th consecutive session, appreciating by 0.1 per cent in the inter-bank market on Thursday. 

Interbank closing #ExchangeRate for today https://t.co/eQ99deOfSL#SBPExchangeRate pic.twitter.com/l5N8iEiQNa

— SBP (@StateBank_Pak) December 28, 2023

The State Bank of Pakistan reported that the rupee settled at Rs281.93, marking an increase of Re0.27. A day earlier, the rupee had experienced a slight gain, closing at Rs282.20 against the US dollar.

In a related development, the Ministry of Finance acknowledged the persistent challenge of higher markup payments. The ministry stressed the importance of both revenue enhancement and prudent expenditure control.

Internationally, the US dollar faced substantial losses on Thursday, poised for a yearly decline after two years of robust gains. 

Anticipation of interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve in the coming year influenced market sentiments. As the year concludes, limited market activity is expected until the New Year due to thin liquidity.

The dollar index, measuring the US currency against six rivals, reached a five-month low of 100.81. It declined by 0.5 per cent on Wednesday and is on track for a 2.6 per cent decrease this year, breaking a two-year trend of strong gains. I

Investors are closely monitoring the timing of potential interest rate cuts from the Fed, with markets indicating an 89 per cent chance of a cut in March 2024, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Futures suggest up to 158 basis points of Fed easing in the coming year.

Oil prices, a significant indicator of currency parity, stabilised on Thursday following a previous sharp decline. 

Concerns about shipping disruptions along the Red Sea route eased, despite escalating tensions in the Middle East. 

Brent crude futures rose by 2 cents to $79.75 a barrel, while US WTI crude futures traded 3 cents lower at $74.08 a barrel, rebounding from a nearly 2 per cent drop on Wednesday as major shipping firms resumed operations in the Red Sea.