Rupee falls 13 paise to close at 74.42 against US dollar

The dollar index was trading unchanged at 91.86

The Indian rupee slipped 13 paise to close at 74.42 (provisional) against the US currency on Friday, tracking muted domestic equities and unabated foreign fund outflows.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit witnessed high volatility. It opened at 74.30 against the dollar and witnessed an intra-day high of 74.27 and a low of 74.44 during the session.

Snapping its two-day gaining streak, the local unit finally ended the day at 74.42, down 13 paise over its last close. On Thursday, the rupee had settled at 74.29 against the US dollar.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading unchanged at 91.86.

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"Indian rupee erased Thursday's gains and clocked weekly declines after three consecutive weekly gains following risk-off sentiments and fund outflows," said Dilip Parmar, Research Analyst, HDFC Securities.

Market participants are awaiting fiscal deficit and eight core-infra numbers data ahead of next weeks' RBI policy meet for further cues.

"From the level front, spot USDINR is in congestion zone with downside support around 74 and resistance at 74.90," Parmar said.

On the domestic equity market front, the BSE Sensex ended 66.23 points or 0.13 per cent lower at 52,586.84, while the broader NSE Nifty declined 15.40 points or 0.1 per cent to 15,763.05.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude declined 0.25 per cent to $75.86 per barrel in futures trade.

Foreign institutional investors were net sellers in the capital market on Thursday as they offloaded shares worth Rs 866.26 crore, as per exchange data.