Rupee falls 35 paise to hit all-time low of 83.48 against U.S. dollar

Rupee hits all-time low against dollar due to surging greenback, weak Asian peers, and foreign fund outflows.

The Rupee depreciated 35 paise to settle at an all-time low of 83.48 against the American currency on March 22, tracking a surging greenback against major crosses in the overseas markets and weak Asian peers. Forex traders said foreign fund outflows also weighed on the local unit.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened weak at 83.28 against the greenback, and finally settled at a record low of 83.48 (provisional), registering a fall of 35 paise from the previous close of 83.13.

In intraday trade, the Rupee touched a low of 83.52 against the American currency. The Rupee had earlier recorded its lowest closing level of 83.40 on December 13, 2023. According to Anuj Choudhary, Research Analyst, Sharekhan by BNP Paribas, the U.S. dollar strengthened on weak Euro and pound.

Euro declined as the Swiss National Bank (SNB) surprised the markets by cutting interest rates by 25 bps to 1.5%, which raised the odds of a rate cut by the European Central Bank (ECB) in June 2024.

“The pound also fell after the Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged at 5.25%. Two hawkish committee members, who voted for a rate hike in the previous meeting, also voted for a no rate hike. Robust economic data from the U.S. also favoured the U.S. dollar,” Mr. Choudhary said.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.31% higher at 104.32 on March 22. Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, declined 0.05% to $85.74 per barrel.