June 19, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1423

MUMBAI, June 18: The Indian rupee ended firmer for the second successive day on increased dollar inflows from exporters convinced that the local currency is likely to appreciate in the near term, dealers said.

This view has been gaining ground since the dollar began easing against other major global and regional currencies and risks of a war in the region started ebbing. The rupee, which is currently undervalued by three percent on a trade-weighted basis, ended at 48.9550/9650 per dollar, up from the previous close of 48.9875/ 9950. But traders doubt if the central bank will allow the currency to appreciate further given that it wants to push Indian exports.—Reuters