- Pakistan Rupee (PKR) rises as SBP announces MPC meeting
- Domestic equities higher whilst oil falls
- US Dollar (USD) traces bond yields lower
- US retail sales in focus
The US Dollar Pakistan Rupee (USD/PKR) exchange rate is falling lower on Tuesday, paring yesterday’s gains. The pair rose +0.15% across the previous session settling at 157.05. At 11:15 UTC, USD/PKR trades -0.3% at 156.19.
The Rupee is rising tracing minor gains in domestic equities and as the price of oil slips.
On the data front, large scale manufacturing output increased by 5.36% in January compared to a month earlier. Compared to a year earlier output increased by 9.1% according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
The State Bank of Pakistan’s Monetary policy committee is due to meet on Friday and will announcement its monetary policy decision on the same day. The central bank kept rates on hold in the last meeting on 22nd January at 7%. The SBP cautioned that he accommodative stance would remain dependent on growth and inflation.
The US Dollar is trading higher versus the Rupee. However, it is falling lower versus its major peers. The US Dollar Index which measures the greenback versus a basket of major peers trades -0.1% at 91.75 at the time of writing.
The US Dollar is easing lower, tracing US treasury yields southwards. The 10 year benchmark bond yield declined to 1.6% taking the pressure off the greenback. Yields have been under the spotlight across recent sessions as investors bet on a stronger US economic recovery in the face of the $1.9 trillion stimulus package. Inflation expectations have risen. Investors are now looking ahead to the Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting tomorrow for further clues. So far the Fed have been clear that they intend to remain accommodative.
Prior to the Fed, US retail sales will be in focus. January retail sales surged 5.3% month on month. Today retail sales data will provide clues as to whether that was achieved due to the stimulus checks or thanks to the improving jobs market. Analysts are expecting -0.5% month on month decline.
