The Rupee closed weaker on Friday even as the number of people filing for unemployment benefits in the US fell last week, showing that despite the aggressive rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve, the labour market remains strong. The US central bank has hiked its policy rate by 475 basis points since last March from near-zero to the current 4.75-5.00% range. However, the regulator indicated it was on the verge of pausing further increases in borrowing costs after the recent collapse of two mid-sized banks.The Bank of England hiked interest rates for the 11th time in a row on Thursday, weighing on the greenback. Crude oil prices fell around 1% on Thursday, which might support the rupee. The yield on the 10-year benchmark US Treasury note fell on Thursday as investors bet that the US Fed would go slow on its policy tightening cycle going ahead.......
The dollar index slipped to a seven-week low in early trade today as the US Fed delivered a 25 bps rate hike, which was largely expected, and as the initial statement was interpreted by the market as dovish. The sterling rose to a seven-week high as inflation in UK rose sharply to 10.4% putting pressure on the Bank of England to raise rates in its policy decision due later today. Asian indices fell in early trade today, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, as US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell restated his commitment to fight inflation even as the Federal Open Market Committee raised key interest rates by 25 basis points, a decision that was on expected lines. The US FOMC raised the federal funds target range by 25 bps for the second straight meeting to 4.75-5.00%, opting to keep up its monetary policy tightening in spite of much-publicised bank failures in the world's largest economy.......