The Rupee rose on Friday following a Reuters report of a central bank step to curb state-run oil companies' dollar demand, ?adding to measures that have narrowed the currency's underperformance over the ?last fortnight. Since hitting a record low of 95.21 per dollar on March 30, the rupee has recovered as the central bank tapped crisis-era tools to shore up the currency which had been battered by ?foreign portfolio outflows and risks to India's current account balance. On Friday, the ?rupee rose 0.3% to close at 92.9250, after touching a one-week high ?of 92.66 in early trading. After struggling at the bottom of the Asia FX pile till late ?March, ?the currency has gained about 2% since the first set of measures were announced on March 27, becoming the second best performer among major Asian peers in that time frame. In 2026 so far, though, the rupee remains bottom of the regional pile as investors continue to weigh ?weak capital flows and ?risks to the ?economy from elevated energy prices. Against the euro, the pound ?slipped 0.1% to 87.155. The war in the Middle East has caused a global energy price spike, fanning concern around inflation and growth. Money markets are betting on at least one 25 basis point rate increase from the BoE this ?year, a stark reversal from before the war began when there had been expectations for two ?rate cuts . The pound fell 1.9% in March ?as the Middle East ?conflict weighed on markets. ?The closure of the Strait of Hormuz - critical for the flow of energy - dealt a blow to the outlook for the British economy. Still, sterling is headed for its best monthly performance in a year in April so far, rising ?2.6% as ?markets are increasingly betting on a resolution to the ?war. Oil prices fell ?by around 11% on Friday after Iran's foreign minister said passage for all commercial vessels through the ?Strait of Hormuz was open for the remaining ceasefire period and U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never close the strait again. Brent crude futures fell $10.42, or 10.48%, to $88.97 a barrel by 12:39 p.m. EDT (1639 GMT), after falling to a session low ?of $86.09. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $11.48, or 12.12%, at $83.21 a barrel, after touching $80.56.......