The Rupee opened slightly stronger on Wednesday, supported by a pullback in oil prices after U.S. President Donald ?Trump indicated a possible peace deal with Iran. Brent crude July futures extended ?losses in the Asian session, slipping to about $108 per barrel ?after U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly said he would briefly pause an ?operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress toward a ?comprehensive agreement with Iran. He did not provide details, and there was no immediate response from Tehran. Oil markets continue to swing with headlines about U.S.-Iran tensions, which have often lacked ?clarity. Fears of renewed escalation and pressure on the ceasefire rose after ?Trump said he would escort stranded tankers through the strait. The ceasefire between the US and ?Iran ?appears to be holding despite recent escalation in the Persian Gulf, ING Bank said in a note, and Trump pausing the operation should put more downside pressure on oil. The rupee, in turn, has been taking cues from oil ?prices, with rallies ?in crude exerting ?more pressure than the relief offered by pullbacks. The currency hit an all-time low of 95.4325 on Tuesday. Persistent pressure ?on the rupee is fuelling expectations of measures to ?boost dollar ?inflows. Reuters reported the Reserve Bank of India is studying ways to mobilise such flows, while Bloomberg News reported that the central bank is weighing a plan ?for state-owned ?lenders to sell foreign-currency bonds. The dollar retreated against most major currencies on Wednesday after the U.S. signalled it may be nearing a deal with Iran, ?while the yen continued to drift weaker toward levels that have ?previously drawn intervention from Tokyo. The euro stood at $1.1714 and sterling traded at $1.35685 , both up roughly 0.2% so far on the day. The Australian dollar fetched $0.7208 , up nearly 0.4% in early trade, and the New Zealand dollar was up 0.3% at $0.5905. The dollar index ?fell 0.01% to ?98.299. Against the yen, the dollar traded at 157.62 yen , down 0.17% from late U.S. levels, still well ?above ?last week's intervention low despite easing oil prices. The ?move suggests the recovery has more to do with the absence of any follow-up intervention from Japanese authorities. Oil prices fell for a second day on Wednesday on expectations bottled up supply from the key Middle East ?producing region could resume flowing after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a possible peace deal ?may be reached to end the war with Iran. Brent crude futures for July fell $1.52, or 1.38%, to $108.35 per barrel as of 0103 GMT, after dropping 4% in the previous session. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate futures for June declined $1.50, or ?1.47%, to $100.77, after closing down 3.9% the day before.......
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