Overview
- The rupee ended Friday at 89.90 per US dollar after touching an intraday low of 89.94, having opened at 89.84.
- Forex traders cited foreign fund withdrawals, higher crude prices, dollar demand from importers, and risk-off sentiment linked to trade deal uncertainties as key drags.
- Exchange data showed FPIs sold Rs 317.56 crore of equities on Friday and Rs 1,721.26 crore on Wednesday.
- Equities retreated with the Sensex closing 367.25 points lower at 85,041.45 and the Nifty down 99.80 points at 26,042.30.
- Market gauges showed the dollar index at 98.07 and Brent futures at USD 62.41 per barrel, while Anil Kumar Bhansali noted the rupee largely held a 89.50–90.00 range with RBI interventions and merchant flows active.