The Indian rupee held steady around 92.6 per dollar, consolidating recent gains as traders assessed the durability of the Middle East ceasefire and broader global risk sentiment. The currency is expected to open in the 92.70–92.80 range, supported by ongoing Reserve Bank of India measures and a moderation in foreign equity outflows, both of which have helped stabilize overall market flows.
Still, the room for further appreciation appears limited. Market participants highlighted volatile crude oil prices, persistent hedging demand from importers, and uneven capital inflows as factors likely to keep the rupee confined to a tight trading band.
Global sentiment remains fragile following renewed tensions in the Middle East, with Donald Trump and Iranian officials at odds over the path ahead, clouding the outlook for negotiations before the ceasefire deadline. Risks were further underscored after US forces boarded an Iranian-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Oman, marking the first enforcement action linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.