WTI crude oil futures fell 1.1% to below $88 per barrel on Friday, the lowest in roughly six weeks, ending May down 16.2%. The move followed reports that the US and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to extend a ceasefire and ease restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, although President Donald Trump has not yet approved the deal and Iranian state media said it has not been finalized. The potential agreement has raised expectations of an eventual end to the US-Israeli war in Iran and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for about one-fifth of global oil and LNG flows. Analysts warn that any recovery in flows would likely be slow, as mines would need clearing, damaged infrastructure repaired and shut-in production restarted, with tanker delays also limiting supply restoration.
The Indian rupee hovered near 95 per dollar, strengthening after the holiday break on reduced pressure from elevated oil prices.Meanwhile, traders also pointed to likely dollar outflows linked to global equity index rebalancing as a near-term source of volatility for the Indian currency. The rupee has weakened roughly 5% since the conflict involving Iran escalated earlier this year and remained on track for a monthly decline.
