Rupee rises 5 paise to 96.48 against U.S. dollar in early trade

On July 22, rupee depreciated by 28 paise to close at 96.53 against the U.S. dollar. File | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto The rupee rose 5 paise to 96.48 against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Thursday (July 23, 2026), on possible intervention by the Reserve Bank even as heightened tensions in West Asia maintained pressure on global crude oil prices.Foreign Institutional Investor outflows and sustained negative sentiments in the domestic equity markets added pressure on the local unit, while a weaker greenback provided some respite, forex traders said.At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 96.53 before inching up to 96.48, up 5 paise from its previous close.The rupee depreciated by 28 paise to close at 96.53 against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday (July 22, 2026)."State-owned banks were seen selling dollars — widely viewed as intervention on behalf of the RBI — around the 96.50 level, preventing a steeper depreciation but the closure remained lower for the rupee on Wednesday [July 22, 2026]. Rupee remains near its all-time closing low and if oil prices keep rising we may see it crossing this level, too," Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said.The U.S. military announced on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), that it was conducting a 12th night of strikes against Iran as both sides increasingly targeted civilian infrastructure.President Donald Trump warned earlier on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), that the U.S. would destroy one bridge or power plant each time Iran shoots at a ship in the strait."The rupee is expected to move in the range of 96.50-96.65 in Thursday's session, with risk tilted to the downside, although support from the RBI is likely to limit the losses. Key support would be at 96.10-95.80," Aamir Makda, Commodity and Currency Analyst, Technical Research, Choice Broking, said.Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading lower by 0.14% at 100.97.Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 2.26% higher at $96.20 per barrel in futures trade.Forex traders said crude oil prices remain elevated amid concerns over the security of oil shipments through the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.On the domestic equity market front, Sensex extended losses on Thursday (July 23, 2026), declining 230.95 points to 76,521.02 in early trade, while Nifty was down 57.15 points to 23,937.Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth ₹819.20 crore on a net basis on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), according to exchange data. Published - July 23, 2026 11:29 am IST