Rupee Plunges 42 Paise To 71.80 Against US Dollar Amid Spike In Crude Prices

The rupee plunged by 42 paise to settle at a one-and-a-half-month low of 71.80 against the US currency on Friday due to a spike in crude oil prices after US President Donald Trump ordered strike on an Iranian commander.

Trump ordered the killing of Iran Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, escalating tensions in the strategic Gulf region.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 71.56, then lost further ground to touch a low of 71.81 against the American currency.

The unit finally settled at 71.80 against the US dollar, logging its biggest single-day loss of 42 paise in more than one-and-a-half month. The rupee had previously closed near this level on November 20.

On Thursday, the domestic unit had dropped by 16 paise to end at 71.38 against the US dollar. Following US-Iran tensions, Brent futures, the global oil benchmark, soared 4.24 per cent to USD 69.06 per barrel.

On a weekly basis, the domestic unit lost 45 paise.