Our Bureau

MUMBAI: The rupee was range-bound on Friday in a directionless market.

However, it ended at one-month high of 43.56 against the dollar, as against Thursday's close of 43.58.

The rupee opened at 43.59/60 and traded in the range of between 43.56 and 43.59 the whole day, said dealers.

The inflation for the week ended February 26 was 4.96 per cent, against 4.83 per cent the previous week. The dealer said, "As the inflation was almost the same, it did not have much impact on the rupee either."

The rupee is expected to trade between 43.55 and 43.65 against the dollar next week, the dealer added.

In the forwards market, the 6-month premia traded between 1.44 and 1.51 per cent, while the 12-month premium traded between 1.27 and 1.30 per cent.

The bond market was flat with the 7.38 per cent 10-year benchmark closing at Rs 106.19 (6.55 per cent YTM)) on Friday, against Thursday's close of Rs 106.03 (6.57 per cent YTM). The paper had opened at Rs 106.10 (6.56 per cent YTM).

A dealer with a private bank said that the market was disappointed because the RBI Governor, Dr Y.V. Reddy, did not make any comment about interest rates at the FIMMDA conference. Therefore, there was a drop of about 5 to 10 paise. However, the fall in global oil price was a positive factor, he added.

The inter-bank call rate was between 4.60 and 4.80 per cent. In the CBLO (Collaterised Borrowing and Lending Obligations) market, 114 trades were put through amounting to Rs 4,036.45 crore in the range of 4.30-4.75 per cent.

In the one-day reverse repo under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility, RBI received and accepted 47 bids amounting to Rs 33,610 crore.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu Business Line