Mumbai: On Tuesday  after Snapping its two-day losing streak, the rupee ticked higher by 23 paise to close at 71.57 per US dollar amid fresh foreign fund inflows and gains in domestic equities. Forex dealers said investors were cautious ahead RBI's Monetary Policy Committee outcome scheduled for February 7.

V K Sharma, Head PCG & Capital Markets Strategy, HDFC Securities said that "Rupee is consolidating in the range, as most of the Asian region's markets shut for Lunar New Year holidays. Near term focus of domestic forex market will be on three-day central bank policy meet, starting Tuesday," . At the Interbank Foreign Exchange, the rupee opened stronger at 71.72 a dollar. The local unit moved in a range of 71.55 to 71.80, before finally ending at 71.57, showing a gain of 23 paise. On Monday, the rupee had plunged by 55 paise to close at 71.80 against the US dollar.

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Forex traders said continued foreign fund outflows and surging crude oil prices restricted the rupee up move. Foreign funds purchased shares worth Rs 420.65 crore on a net basis, and domestic institutional investors bought shares worth Rs 194.31 crore Tuesday, provisional data showed.

However,  the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a holder of six currencies, was trading higher by 0.13 per cent at 95.97 ahead of US President Donald Trump's State of the Union address. Meanwhile, brent crude, the global benchmark, was trading higher at 62.87 per barrel higher by 0.58 per cent.

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