Rupee makes gain on lower international oil prices

Rupee makes gain on lower international oil prices

KARACHI: The Pak Rupee ended with gain of 77 paisas against dollar on Wednesday owing to fall in international oil prices.

The rupee closed at Rs160.36 to the dollar from previous day’s closing of Rs161.13 in interbank foreign exchange market.

Currency experts said that positive sentiments prevailed in the market owing to significant decline in international oil prices which would help reduction in Pakistan’s oil import bill.

They said that Pakistan is net importer of international crude oil and finished petroleum products.

Besides they said that the rupee continued gain against dollar as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) last week cut policy rate by 200 basis points to nine percent.

The central bank reduced the policy rate third time in last one month considering significant adverse effect of coronavirus on the economy,

Meanwhile last week the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) a day earlier approved the disbursement of $1.386 billion under the Rapid Financing Instrument to address the economic impact of the Covid-19 shock.

The currency dealers said that the rupee may witness further appreciation in coming days due to falling international oil prices and reduction in non-oil imports.