OPEN MARKET RATES: At the week-end, the US dollar hit its lowest level in roughly six months against the euro on Friday after data showing US jobs growth rebounded sharply in April was not enough to shake investors' bullishness toward the euro ahead of the second round of France's presidential election.
US non-farm payrolls surged by 211,000 jobs last month, the Labour Department said, beating expectations of economists polled by Reuters for a gain of 185,000. The drop of one-tenth of a percentage point in the unemployment rate to 4.4 percent took it to its lowest level since May 2007. They also said the weaker March jobs figure and labour force participation rate gave traders an excuse to continue holding the euro.
The euro hit $1.0991, its highest since early November 2016, after the US jobs data and has risen to that level from a 14-year low of $1.0339 touched in early January. The dollar rose slightly against the yen and was last up 0.1 percent against the Japanese currency at 112.54 yen after the data, but remained below Thursday's roughly seven-week high of 113.04 yen.
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Open Bid Rs 105.60
Open Offer Rs 105.80
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RUPEE IN LAHORE: The Pak rupee was unchanged on buying side while it depreciated on selling side against the US dollar in the local currency market on Saturday.
According to currency dealers, the US dollar resumed trading on its overnight trend of Rs 105.60 and Rs 105.80 as its buying and selling rates, respectively.
At the close, no change in its value took place on buying counter as it sustained its opening rate of Rs 105.60. However, it appreciated on selling counter and ended at Rs 106.00, they added.
Furthermore, the local currency remained under pressure for the second consecutive day against the British pound.
The pound's buying and selling rates further drifted from Friday's closing trend of Rs 135.80 and Rs 136.50 to Rs 136.20 and Rs 136.90 respectively, they said.
RUPEE IN ISLAMABAD AND RAWALPINDI: The rupee remained firm against the dollar at the open currency markets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi here on Saturday.
The dollar opened at Rs 105.90 (buying) and Rs 106 (selling). It closed at the same. Pound Sterling opened at Rs 135 (buying) and Rs 135.50 (selling). It closed at the same rate.