Rupee recovers from record low on bank, exporter dollar sales

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee ended firmer yesterday, recovering from a record low hit in the previous session, as banks and exporters sold dollars, dealers said.

The spot rupee ended at 153.75/85 per dollar, compared with Tuesday’s close of 154.05/15.
On Tuesday, the rupee hit a record intraday low of 154.20/25 per dollar. “Today, the pressure was not there as there was not much demand. There was some (dollar) selling due to salary week, and also some foreign banks sold dollars,” said a currency dealer.

The rupee might see volatility due to heavy debt repayment by the government this year, said dealers.
Sri Lanka raised US $ 470.6 million last week via development bonds, the Central Bank said.

President Maithripala Sirisena’s administration must repay an estimated Rs.1.97 trillion in 2018 - a record high - including US $ 2.9 billion of foreign loans, and a total of US $ 5.36 billion in interest. Foreign investors bought Rs.2.1 billion worth of government securities this year up to January 18, the Central Bank data showed.

The rupee currency fell 2.5 percent last year, and 3.9 percent in 2016.