Rupee hits new record low; slumps 24 paise to 90.56/USD
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 24 paise to a new record low of 90.56 against US dollar in early trade on Friday, as uncertainty over the India-US trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows dented investors' sentiments.
Forex traders said rupee is under pressure largely due to aggressive dollar purchases from importers amid surging global prices for precious metals.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 90.43 against the US dollar, then fell further to 90.56 against the greenback, registering a fall of 24 paise from its previous close.
On Thursday, the rupee had plunged 38 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.32 against the US dollar.
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"For the day the range of 90 to 90.60 should be honored with a close watch on RBI. Today is also the last day of the talks between the Indian and visiting American delegation and we hope a deal is announced after that," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.02 per cent higher at 98.37.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.67 per cent at USD 61.69 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading higher by 170.40 points at 84,988.53, while the Nifty was up 98.40 points at 25,996.95.
Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 2,020.94 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.
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Affront to non-Hindi speaking people: Chidambaram slams use of Hindi words in bills' names
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader P Chidambaram has slammed the "increasing practice" of the government using Hindi words in the titles of the bills and said the change is an "affront" to the non-Hindi-speaking people.
Chidambaram said the non-Hindi-speaking people cannot identify a Bill/Act with titles that are in Hindi words written in English letters, and they cannot pronounce them.
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"I am opposed to the increasing practice of the government using Hindi words written in English letters in the title of the Bills to be introduced in Parliament," the former Union minister said late Monday night.
Hitherto, the practice was to write the title of the Bill in English words in the English version and in Hindi words in the Hindi version of the Bill, Chidambaram said.
"When no one pointed out any difficulty in the 75 year practice, why should government make a change?" he said.
"This change is an affront to non-Hindi speaking people and to States that have an official language other than Hindi," the Congress leader said.
Successive governments have reiterated the promise that English will remain an Associate Official Language, Chidambaram said.
"I fear that promise is in danger of being broken," the Congress MP said.
