MUMBAI, April 27 Reuters The Indian rupee will look to rise further versus the U.S. currency on Thursday, helped by dollar inflows, while contending with mixed Asian currencies.

The nondeliverable forwards indicate the rupee will open at around 81.7081.75 to the dollar compared with 81.76 in the previous session.

The local currency on Wednesday managed a rally in the afternoon session, supported by sizeable dollar sales by two foreign banks, which some traders said were mostly IPOrelated.

Sizeable dollar offers from foreign banks and the Reserve Bank of India not being there is making us hopeful of a breakdown on USDINR, a spot trader said.

Obviously, that could quickly change if the RBI decides to intervene and not allow more downside on USDINR.

To maintain its momentum, the rupee will have to contend with tepid risk appetite and mixed Asian peers. Asian shares struggled for direction following overnight losses on the SP 500 Index. The offshore Chinese yuan was little changed at 6.94 to the dollar, while the Korean won weakened.

The dollar index slipped overnight, weighed by an upbeat euro that was near a oneyear high versus as Europe39;s resilient economy contrasted with banking contagion risks in the United States and the debt ceiling standoff.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday narrowly passed a bill to raise the government39;s 31.4 trillion debt ceiling that includes sweeping spending cuts over the next decade. The bill is unlikely to pass the…