The Rupee opened stronger on Wednesday, with traders tracking headlines around the U.S.-India trade deal that could influence sentiment and flows. Asian peers were marginally weaker, while the dollar index inched higher. A currency trader at a private sector bank said there has been "incremental" news flow around the U.S.-India trade deal, though it is "hard to know what to make of it yet". The rupee is anyway stuck in a tight range, the trader added, making it unlikely that minor moves in Asia will shift the pair. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday remarked that "good news" on the India–U.S. trade pact will follow only after the two sides reach terms that are fair, equitable and balanced, media reports said. There has been a steady stream of headlines around the India–U.S. trade deal, with little in the way of a definitive agreement to help the rupee. The currency has largely held its current level thanks to the Reserve Bank of India’s defence of the 88.80 level, per bankers. The rupee has been largely struggling amid importers stepping up hedging, with exporters contributing only modest flows. Meanwhile, the Indian currency will have to contend with the weak risk mood, with U.S. equities extending losses on Tuesday. The S&P 500 index logged a fourth straight session of losses on concerns about the valuations of AI shares. That, alongside a drop in the probability of the Federal Reserve delivering a third rate cut this year, has supported the dollar and undermined demand for Asian currencies. The yen regained its footing and the U.S. dollar held steady against most of its biggest peers in early trading in Asia on Wednesday, as investors switched into safe havens after a days-long global selloff in stocks. The yen advanced 0.1% after hitting a nine-month low against the dollar on Tuesday and was fetching 155.49 yen to the dollar. The dollar index , which measures the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was flat at 99.594, close to a one-week high, as U.S. Treasury bonds drew bids. Traders are inching up bets on monetary easing from the Federal Reserve at its next meeting, although there is still uncertainty given division within the central bank on whether to delay a rate cut. Fed funds futures are pricing an implied 46.6% probability of a 25-basis-point cut at the December 10 meeting, compared to a 42.4% chance a day earlier, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool. The Australian dollar fetched $0.65085 , 0.1% weaker in early trade, after data showed wages rose at a steady pace in the third quarter. The kiwi slipped 0.2% to $0.5659 . The euro stood at $1.1580 , little changed but trading near a one-week low of $1.1572 hit in U.S. trade. Sterling was at $1.3148 , unchanged on the day. Oil prices fell on Wednesday as an industry report showing crude and fuel inventories rose last week in the U.S., the world's biggest crude consumer, reinforced mounting concerns that supply is exceeding demand in the market. Brent crude futures dropped 28 cents, or 0.43%, at $64.61 a barrel as of 0200 GMT, after gaining 1.1% in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 24 cents, or 0.4%, at $60.5 a barrel, after rising 1.4% on Tuesday.......