Rs settles 21 paise higher at 69.15 to $

Mumbai: The Indian rupee Wednesday advanced by 21 paise to close at 69.15 against the US currency in line with uptrend in domestic equities.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 69.40 a dollar and advanced to a high of 69.07 during the day. It finally settled at 69.15, up 21 paise against its previous close of 69.36.

Forex dealers said a positive sentiment built up ahead of a scheduled meeting at G20 between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, later this week.

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's comments eased concern over the trade impasse with China to some extent. Besides, traders said, gains in domestic equities, foreign fund inflows and latest news on monsoon progress also helped in reviving domestic currency market sentiment.

However, rising crude oil prices and strengthening of the US dollar vis-a-vis other major currencies overseas capped the gains for the rupee.

Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, rose 1.38 per cent to USD 65.95 per barrel.

The dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.11 per cent to 96.24. Meanwhile, Financial Benchmark India Private Ltd (FBIL) set the reference rate for the rupee/dollar at 69.3398 and for rupee/euro at 79.0525.