The Rupee closed modestly stronger on Thursday and for the week as falling oil prices improved sentiment alongside signs of a ?pickup in foreign portfolio inflows, while caution lingered over the prospect of U.S. rate hikes. The rupee rose about 0.3% on ?the day to close Thursday's session at 94.3950 and was nearly flat on the week. Indian financial markets are shut on Friday for a local holiday. While the currency bounced to an over one-month peak ?in early trading, it pared some gains due to month-end dollar demand from importers ?and on account of maturing non-deliverable forward contracts. Early gains were led ?by foreign banks' dollar sales, likely on behalf of custodial clients, a trader ?at a private sector lender said. The pound was set for its worst monthly performance against the dollar since last July on Thursday, in a week that marked the tenth ?anniversary of the Brexit vote and brought the resignation of Labour Prime Minister Keir Stramer. Sterling has lost 2.2% in June, the most in a month since July 2025, when it fell 3.8%. It was trading at $1.3161 on Thursday, down 0.1% on the day and not far off its ?lowest since November. The Canadian dollar was on track to snap its ?daily losing streak against the U.S. dollar on Thursday as oil prices rose and after U.S. inflation data led to the greenback giving back some of its recent broad-based gains. The loonie ?was trading 0.2% higher at 1.4202 per U.S. dollar, or 70.41 U.S. ?cents. Its rise follows seven straight days of declines, including the ?currency touching a 14-month low of 1.4248 on Wednesday. Oil prices edged up about 2% on Thursday after a cargo vessel was hit ?by an unknown projectile near Oman, sparking worries about how long it could take for oil flows in the Middle East to ?return to levels seen before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Brent futures rose $1.12, or 1.5%, to $74.86 a barrel at 1:40 p.m. EDT (1740 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.22, or 1.7%, to $71.56.......
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