The Indian rupee weakened by 32 paise in early Thursday trading, hitting a record low of 95.20 against the US dollar. The decline was driven by persistently high Brent crude prices, which hovered around USD 122 per barrel, along with continued strength in the US currency.
According to forex traders, the USD/INR pair could face further pressure as rising oil prices increase India’s import bill. Ongoing concerns about a potential escalation of conflict in West Asia have also unsettled investors.
At the same time, the US dollar extended its gains after the US Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates unchanged. Demand for the dollar as a safe-haven asset also strengthened following renewed diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran.