The Rupee opened weak on Friday, with most traders predicting that the central bank will likely intervene to prevent the currency from hitting a new all-time low. The rupee has been pressured in recent weeks by relentless dollar demand from importers, with sentiment remaining firmly skewed against the currency amid equity outflows and U.S.-India trade frictions. The Reserve Bank of India has been stepping in to ensure the rupee’s decline remains orderly. Central bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra reiterated earlier this week that the RBI is not defending any particular level of the currency and is instead focused on containing volatility and keeping moves measured. The RBI support is "keeping things calm" for now, a currency trader at a bank said. However, overall sentiment remains weak and the market wants to test the downside, he added. Currency traders are closely watching the 88.80 level, the lifetime low for the rupee hit on Monday. With broad dollar demand keeping the pressure on, this level is seen a key marker for potential intervention or a pause in the currency’s slide. Asian cues did not lend any particular direction to the rupee on Friday, with peers mixed and the dollar index marginally higher. A U.S. government shutdown has paused the release of key economic data, including Friday’s closely watched September jobs report, depriving markets of an important gauge for the Federal Reserve’s rate outlook. The yen edged lower on Friday, trimming its sharpest weekly gain in more than four months, as traders considered the impact of potential rate increases by the Bank of Japan and a leadership election this weekend. The dollar rebounded overnight despite a closure of the U.S. government that has halted the publication of key economic data, including the closely watched monthly jobs report for September that was due to be released on Friday. Canada's currency held near a four-month low on a slide in oil prices. The yen slid 0.2% to 147.52 per dollar, still on track for a 1.3% advance this week that would be the biggest since mid-May. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of key currencies, tacked on 0.1% to 97.895. The euro was little changed at $1.1721. Markets were keeping a close eye on speeches by BOJ officials this week after the central bank's tankan survey on Wednesday showed confidence among big manufacturers improved for the second straight quarter. Traders see a 25-basis-point cut at the Fed's October meeting as almost certain and are pricing in a 90% probability of an additional cut in December, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool. Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan on Thursday said the central bank appropriately cut rates last month to guard against the risk of a sharp deterioration in the job market, but said that so far the cooling has been gradual and signalled she is not eager to cut rates further. The Canadian currency traded little changed at 1.3962 per U.S. dollar after touching 1.3986 on Thursday, its weakest intraday level since May 16. Oil prices rose slightly on Friday after four straight sessions of declines but were on track for their steepest weekly decline since late June due to market expectations that the OPEC+ group could hike output further despite oversupply concerns. Brent crude futures gained 18 cents, or 0.3%, to $64.29 a barrel by 0000 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed by 19 cents, or 0.3%, to $60.67 a barrel.......