Defying a smart rebound in local equities, the rupee on Monday lost 4 paise against the US currency to end at 66.74 on fresh dollar demand fromimporters and corporates. A rebound in the dollar in response to the FBI announcement clearing Hillary Clinton of any offences heading into the US presidential election, coupled with sustained capital outflows, predominantly kept the home currency under pressure.
Forex dealers said the dollar’s strength against some other currencies overseas after FBI said Hillary Clinton would not face criminal charges over her use of a private e-mail server, easing worries over her US presidential bid, weighed on the rupee but strong domestic equities cushioned the impact.
The rupee opened weak by 5 paise to 66.75 against the previous close of 66.70 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market today.
It hovered in a range of 66.76 and 66.67 before quoting at 66.73, down 3 paise at 4.30 pm local time.
In the oveseas market, the dollar jumped on Monday as news that Democrat Hillary Clinton would not face criminal charges related to her use of a private e-mail server gave the US presidential contender an eleventh hour boost before the November 8 election.
The FBI had said late on Sunday that it stood by its earlier finding that no criminal charges were warranted against Clinton.
Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE index closed 184.84 points or 0.68 per cent higher at 27,458.99,