Rupee Gains 44 Paise Against US Dollar Amidst Retreating Crude Oil Prices

• The Indian rupee strengthened by 44 paise, closing at 91.49 against the US dollar on Monday.
• The gain followed the Union Budget 2026-27 presentation and was largely attributed to a drop in crude oil prices.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reportedly defended the 92 per dollar level, preventing further depreciation.
• Despite initial concerns over the government's high borrowing plan (Rs 17.2 lakh crore), the rupee and domestic equities performed well.
• Brent crude prices fell 4.46% to USD 66.23 per barrel, influenced by US-Iran discussions.

Why It Matters: Rupee strengthens post-Budget due to falling crude prices and RBI intervention, outperforming regional currencies.