The Indian rupee hovered near 94.9 per dollar, steadying near record levels as markets continued to digest persistent external pressures. Oil prices held steady after an initial dip, with traders weighing the effectiveness of a US initiative aimed at improving safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude stayed above $108 a barrel after early volatility, while West Texas Intermediate hovered near $102, keeping energy costs elevated. Sentiment was also shaped by renewed security concerns after a tanker was struck by projectiles near the UAE coast. The rupee had earlier weakened to a record 95.33 before stabilising, with traders noting that central bank intervention may be helping to curb sharper swings. Looking ahead, currency and bond markets are expected to remain sensitive to oil, geopolitics, and upcoming economic data that could shape global growth expectations.
