From Nov 20 to 24, 2011Standard Chartered Bank

The local call money rates hovered around 6.0 per cent-9.0 per cent during the past week and the market liquidity scenario improved throughout the last week, according to a press release. The inter-bank rates of US dollar Bangladesh taka continued its upward trend during the past week while foreign exchange liquidity remained tight throughout the past week. Euro took a battering against a basket of currencies in the past week, as a weak German bond auction prompted fear to grip the markets. Euro finished sharply lower against US dollar. Euro fell to a six-week low versus Japanese yen Monday, pressured by uncertainty over the euro zone debt crisis. Euro continued to fell Wednesday, while safe-haven currencies like US dollar and yen gained on renewed concerns about the stability of the European banking sector and signs that global growth was slowing. Euro stayed near seven-week lows against dollar Thursday, having suffered a steep fall after a 'disastrous' German bond sale fuelled fears the region's debt crisis. Australian and New Zealand dollars fell against dollar and yen in the past week. Australian and New Zealand dollars fell Monday as investors, already fretting about Europe's crisis. Australian and New Zealand dollars were struggling with heavy losses on dollar and yen Tuesday. Again, dollars dropped Wednesday. Australian and New Zealand dollars struggled Thursday after a poor German bond sale and worries about France's triple-A rating added to an already weak sentiment following signs China is slowing. US dollar stayed within sight of a six-week high against a basket of currencies at the beginning of the week as concerns that politicians on both sides of the Atlantic were failing to tackle huge debt burdens weighed on investor appetite for risk, the release added.