The Indian rupee closed weak this week as rising oil prices and growing expectations of a more hawkish Federal Reserve offset support from improving foreign portfolio inflows, stalling ?the currency's recovery. A pickup in foreign portfolio flows helped lift the currency to an over six-month high earlier in the week. Overseas investors have net bought over $8 billion of Indian stocks over November so far, with another $800 million pouring into local debt. The market is keeping a keen eye on signs of the Reserve Bank of India's dollar-buying interventions to replenish its foreign exchange reserves. The pound was unchanged on Friday and set for its biggest weekly drop since September, as rising US yields and hawkish comments from several Federal Reserve officials ?helped prop up the dollar near 19-month high. Sterling was up 0.05% at $1.323 and on track for its fourth successive negative session against the dollar, while Treasury yields rose after President Donald Trump said the United States does not need a deal with Iran. Meanwhile, sterling edged stronger to 83.55 pence per euro , trading around its firmest since May 2025. The Canadian dollar remained on track for a weekly decline against its US counterpart on Friday as recent widening in the gap between US and Canadian yields weighed on the currency, and ahead of key domestic ?inflation data. The loonie was trading nearly unchanged at 1.4257 per US dollar, or 70.14 US cents, after moving in a range of 1.4229 to 1.4270. The dollar was ?on track for its strongest weekly rise in two months on Friday, holding near a 19-month high as rising bets on a larger Federal Reserve rate hike lifted US Treasury yields, while the yen hovered around 160 per dollar and kept traders alert for possible intervention from Tokyo. Hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials and this week's stronger-than-expected US inflation data have left traders weighing the prospect of a larger-than-usual Fed rate hike next month. Two-year Treasury yields have risen around 32 basis points so far this week to around 4.84%, on course for their biggest weekly jump since April 2025. The euro was down 0.23% at $1.103, after hitting its lowest level against the dollar since April 2025. It was on course for its fourth straight week of losses. The dollar was up 0.28% to 0.837 against the Swiss franc and was set to snap two straight weeks of losses. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, was up 0.1% at 103.34, clinging to its highest since April 2025 and on track for its biggest weekly gain since September. That would be its third straight week of gains. The yen was steady at 159.84 per dollar, around its weakest since early September, fuelling concerns about possible intervention. The currency has weakened about 1% this week, on track for its biggest weekly loss since September. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Friday the government would respond appropriately to currency volatility. The Australian dollar was down 0.46% at $0.678. The Aussie is the worst-performing G10 currency against the dollar so far this month. Australia is the only G10 country for which markets are pricing a rate cut next year. The New Zealand kiwi weakened 0.29% versus the greenback to $0.553 and was on course for its third straight week of losses. Oil prices edged higher on Friday but were set for a second straight weekly decline as Washington's focus on blockading Iran and ramping up other economic ?pressures allayed fears of renewed direct conflict, although attacks on shipping continued to pose a supply risk. Brent futures rose 85 cents, or 0.9%, to $96.67 a barrel at 1414 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate futures were up 44 cents, or 0.5%, to $89.18 a barrel. www.eforexindia.com......