Business

Rupee Under Pressure: Crude Oil Above $90 Pushes Currency Lower

Published: 18 August 2026 · 1 min read

What Happened

The rupee weakened by 7 paise to 95.68 against the US dollar in early trade as Brent crude oil surged above $91 per barrel. Rising oil prices increased demand for dollars from oil importers, while concerns over future forex inflows and continued foreign investor selling added pressure on the Indian currency.

Key Takeaways

India imports most of its crude oil needs, so higher oil prices typically weaken the rupee by increasing the country's import bill and demand for dollars. If crude remains above $90 a barrel, both the rupee and equity markets could face continued pressure.

Sources

TOI, Rediff