Rupee closes 3 paise higher at 54.78 vs USD

A strong dollar weighed on rupee but the local currency managed to erase early losses and settle 3 paise higher at 54.78, amid signs of massive capital inflows.

The rupee commenced weak at 54.86 a dollar and moved down further a low of 54.91 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market on initial dollar demand from importers.

It, however, bounced back on rally in local stocks to a high of 54.65 a dollar before again falling back to end at 54.78 - a rise of three paise or 0.05 per cent over its previous closing of 54.81, a one-month low.

The dollar index was up by 0.43 per cent against a basket of six major currencies as euro dropped against the dollar, after quarterly economic reports from France and Germany missed expectations, said analysts.

The Indian benchmark S&P BSE Sensex on Wednesday zoomed by 491 points, or 2.49 per cent, to a fresh 28-month high on hopes of rate cut by the RBI in its next monetary policy meeting.

FIIs pumped in a staggering Rs 1,646.95 crore (USD 300 million) in stocks today as per provisional BSE data.

Stocks rallied after Reserve Bank of India Governor D Subbarao said the central bank would take into account falling inflation while deciding on policy initiative in its review next month.