The Rupee opened weak on Tuesday, potentially slipping to an all-time low, amid high oil prices ?that have been a persistent drag for several weeks. The ?rupee is on a seven-day losing streak, shedding 2.2% and hitting ?new lows. It has fallen more than 6% since the Iran war began in late ?September. Brent ?crude was hovering near $110 a barrel in Asia trading, with investors weighing whether the U.S. and Iran will reach an agreement to halt the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump said he had ?paused a planned ?attack on Iran ?to allow for negotiations, providing slight relief. Still, risk appetite remained subdued, with U.S. equity futures sliding and Asian ?equity markets declining. The weak sentiment weighed on Asian currencies. Asian ?units ?are further having to contend with a recent rise in U.S. Treasury yields, with investors pricing in the prospect of oil prices remaining higher for longer, ?potentially ?fuelling inflation. Meanwhile, India raised petrol and diesel prices ?by about 0.9 rupees per litre on Tuesday, fuel retailers in Delhi said, marking the ?second such increase in a week. The U.S. dollar index , which measures the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, held steady at 99.026, attracting bids after easing fears of an escalation in the war pushed the gauge 0.3% ?lower on Monday, snapping a five-day winning streak. The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury bond was down 3 basis points at 4.591%, retreating ?after hitting its highest level in a year as fears a lasting jump in inflation eased. Brent crude futures ?slumped 2.4% to $109.43 per barrel. The dollar had gained strength during the past week as a safe haven from an escalation of the war in the Middle East and a selloff gripping global bond markets, as investors repriced the risk that central banks would have ?to take action to contain inflation with the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed and energy markets disrupted. Fed funds futures ?are pricing an implied 36.2% probability of a 25-basis-point hike at the U.S. central bank's two-day meeting on December 9, compared ?to a ?0.5% chance a month ago, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool. Against the yen , the U.S. dollar was flat at 158.895 yen after government data showed on Tuesday that Japan's economy grew by an annualised 2.1% in the first quarter, compared with the median market forecast for a 1.7% gain. Tokyo may have spent nearly 10 trillion yen ($63 billion) since launching its latest round of yen-buying on April 30, central bank data indicates. The ?euro was ?flat at $1.1650, while the British pound was down 0.1% at $1.3427.The Australian dollar ?was 0.1% lower at $0.7164, while its kiwi counterpart slid 0.1% to $0.5868. Against the Chinese yuan , the U.S. dollar held steady at 6.798 yuan in ?offshore trade. Brent futures for July delivery fell $2.26, or 2%, to $109.84 a barrel at 0352 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery fell $1.22, or 1.1%, to $107.44.......
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