Rupee to snap 2-day fall as Asian stocks up

The rupee is expected to snap a two-day losing streak and rise on Friday, buoyed by gains in regional stock markets and other Asian peers, but the domestic sharemarket will be closely watched for cues on fund flows.
                                           
* The partially convertible rupee ended at 46.7350/7450 per dollar on Thursday, off a low of 46.82, its weakest since Oct. 7 and about 0.5 percent below its previous close of 46.485/495.
                                           
* The dollar ground to its latest low for the year against the euro on Friday as the market took aim at options barriers, while sterling, a laggard in the broad rally against the dollar, rose ahead of UK growth data.
                                           
* Most Asian units were also stronger compared to the dollar.
                                           
* The dollar index, a gauge of the U.S. unit's performance versus six majors, however, was almost flat.
                                           
* The Morgan Stanley index of Asian stocks ex-Japan was up 1.4% while the Nifty India stock futures  traded in Singapore were 1% higher, both pointing to a firm opening in the stock market.