Rupee falls 3 paise against US dollar
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee fell 3 paise to close at 88.77 against the US dollar on Tuesday, weighed down by a strong American currency against major crosses overseas.
The domestic currency traded in a tight range as investors preferred to remain on the sidelines amid uncertainties over global trade, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened with a marginal gain at 88.72 against the US dollar and touched the intra-day low of 88.79 before ending the session at 88.77, registering a loss of 3 paise from its previous closing level.
On Monday, the rupee gained 5 paise to settle at 88.74 against the US dollar.
Investors moved cautiously after the US Senate once again rejected both Democratic and Republican proposals to fund the government, prolonging the government shutdown into its sixth day, traders said.
Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities, said the rupee witnessed limited volatility as FII selling eased and crude prices remained soft.
However, the domestic unit continues to hover near its all-time low levels, keeping concerns of further weakness alive, possibly toward 90 levels if sentiment worsens, he added.
"This week's focus remains on Fed Chair Powell's speech, the release of Fed meeting minutes, and key US data on unemployment and non-farm payrolls, which could induce sharp volatility. The rupee range is expected between 88.45 and 88.95," Trivedi said.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, increased 0.34 per cent to 98.13.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.37 per cent lower at USD 65.25 per barrel in futures trading.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said India and the US are in continuous dialogue on the proposed bilateral trade agreement, and all possibilities are there to meet the November deadline for concluding the talks.
Goyal's comment came a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that any trade deal between India and the US must respect New Delhi's "red lines", and efforts are underway to reach an understanding.
According to Jaishankar, there were "issues" between India and the US, and many of them were linked to the inability to firm up the proposed trade deal, even as he noted that "there are things you can negotiate and there are things you can't".
In the domestic equity markets, Sensex climbed 136.63 points or 0.17 per cent to settle at 81,926.75, while Nifty went up 30.65 points or 0.12 per cent to 25,108.30.
Foreign institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 1,440.66 crore on a net basis on Tuesday, according to exchange data.
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28-year old woman allegedly raped by 7 men in front of her boyfriend
Silchar (PTI): A 28-year-old woman was allegedly raped by seven men who also extorted money from her while she was out with her boyfriend near Silchar town in Assam's Cachar district, police said on Tuesday. The victim filed a complaint of the incident, which took place on February 19, and a case has been registered in this connection, a senior police officer said.
The victim identified two persons, who were subsequently arrested, while efforts are on to identify and nab the others, he added.
The case was registered at Silchar Sadar Police Station under sections 308 (5) (extortion by death threat), 310 (2) (dacoity), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 61(2) (unlawful act committed by two or more persons, 70(1) (gang rape), 76 (criminal force against woman with intent to disrobe her or compel her to be naked), 79 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, police said.
The mandatory medical examination has been conducted, and her statement has also been recorded, the officer said.
The victim alleged that at least seven unknown men raped her one after the other and then forced her to transfer Rs 10,000 to one of the accused's accounts.
The police were initially tight-lipped about the issue, but the matter went viral on social media on Tuesday after a Silchar-based journalist was attacked by family members of one of the accused.
The journalist claimed that he was stopped by the family members of the accused near the National Highway Road police station, asked why he reported the incident and then beaten up, but was saved by onlookers.
He also lodged a complaint in this connection, and the police arrested one person in this connection.
A senior police officer appealed to people not to spread misinformation on social media and shared the details.
The victim's family members said that she was in a car with her boyfriend on Bypass Road, a few kilometres from Silchar town, when a group of men appeared in an SUV and attacked them.
"They first asked the couple about their whereabouts and then suddenly grabbed the woman and her friend. There were around 7 men, and they raped her one by one in front of her friend," they alleged.
Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev also demanded strict action and asked the police for an update on the matter.
''I have met SP Cachar District for an update on action taken There should be no attempt to cover up this case. @AITC4Assam will not tolerate it. Medical report awaited I am told'', the Trinamool Congress MP said.
