Rupee ends flat at 71.14 versus US dollar

Global shares wobbled after China posted its weakest GDP growth rate in three decades while the greenback was under pressure from a strengthening pound and euro.

The rupee closed almost flat at 71.14 per US dollar on Friday amid hardening crude oil prices and lacklustre global cues.

Rupee closed almost flat at 71.14 per US dollar. (REUTERS Photo)

Persistent foreign fund inflows propped up the local unit though the gains were capped by crude oil hitting the USD 60 per barrel mark, forex brokers said.

Global shares wobbled after China posted its weakest GDP growth rate in three decades while the greenback was under pressure from a strengthening pound and euro.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened on a cautious note at 71.20 versus the US dollar. It traded in range of 71.31 and 71.05 during the day, before finally finishing at 71.14, up just 2 paise from its previous close.

Global benchmark Brent crude oil futures rose 0.35 per cent to USD 60.12 per barrel. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, slipped 0.15% to 97.45.

Foreign investors bought equities worth Rs 36 crore on Friday, exchange data showed.

The BSE benchmark Sensex closed 246.32 points or 0.63% higher at 39,298.38. It hit an intra-day high of 39,361.06 and a low of 38,963.60.

The NSE gauge Nifty too rose 75.50 points or 0.65 per cent to settle at 11,661.85.