USD/PKR: Pakistani Rupee Advances As Inflation Eases

The Pakistani rupee has edged marginally higher versus the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday, after dipping lower versus the greenback in the previous session. The Pakistani rupee closed on Tuesday at 154.43.

As of 10:30 UTC, USD/PKR was trading at 154.32, down 8 paisa from the open. The pair traded a range of 1554.22 – 154.43.

Pakistan Exports Increase & Inflation Dips

The Pakistani rupee is advancing following encouraging comments from the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Hammad Azhar. Mr Azhar commented that Pakistan’s exports experienced double-digit growth in February, whilst imports declined significantly.

In a separate report, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shoed that consumer inflation declined by -1.04% in the month of February compared to the month earlier. This was down from 2% increase month on month in January. On a yearly basis inflation stands at 12.4% as it edges down from 14.6% in January, in line with market expectations, after the delay in energy hikes and declining food prices had been factored in.

The State Bank of Pakistan is expected to continue its soft stance in its next policy meeting at the end of the month.

G7 Meeting In Focus

The US dollar was moving broadly higher versus its peers on Tuesday, albeit lower versus the Pakistani rupee, as investors look ahead to the G7 conference call on the coronavirus outbreak. The group of 7 finance ministers, including US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin will be holding a rare conference call to discuss how to shield the world economy from the expected coronavirus hit.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will also give a speech shortly after. Jerome Powell last spoke on Friday when he hinted that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates, potentially as soon as March, in a bid to shore up the US economy in the event of coronavirus negatively impacting the US economy.

Yesterday, US manufacturing PMI revealed that the sector grew at the coolest rate in 6 months, unnerving dollar investors. Whilst there is no high impacting US economic data today, investors will look ahead to ADP private payroll figures and ISM non-manufacturing PMI data tomorrow.

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