The Indian rupee closed at its strongest level in two weeks on Thursday as oil prices eased below $100 per barrel on hopes that the risk of escalation in the Iran war has diminished after Republicans lost control of the US Congress. The rupee's reaction was more tepid with a 0.2% gain to end at 94.4750 dollar, tracking gains in most Asian currencies. Dollar-rupee forward premiums, which reflect the cost of hedging against rupee weakness, also eased as traders took comfort in a global relief rally. The Canadian dollar weakened against its US counterpart on Thursday, but the move was limited as investors awaited domestic jobs data and looked for clues on the direction of US policy after the midterm elections. The loonie was trading 0.1% lower at 1.3985 per US dollar, or 71.51 US cents, extending its pullback from a seven-week high on Wednesday at 1.3927. Sterling was roughly unchanged after a six-session rally against the dollar on Thursday, as the Bank of England raised rates for the ?first time in over three years but some policymakers indicated the scope of ?its total tightening could be smaller than markets had been pricing. Oil prices rose more than $2 a barrel on Thursday, as investors reassessed the outlook for ?the U.S- Israel war with Iran while new attacks on tankers fed worries about oil supplies. Brent crude futures rose $2.3, or 2.43%, to $96.92 a barrel by 11:43 a.m. ET (1643 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude increased $2.15, or 2.44%, to $90.27 a barrel.
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