August 15, 2026 04:39 am (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Ajit Doval breaks silence on Operation Sindoor in Discovery’s explosive new docuseries | Rahul Gandhi's 'mock hug' taunt sparks row; Centre stresses 'mutual respect' with Italy | Delhi on high alert: Bomb threat to High Court, airport and multiple locations ahead of I-Day | ‘Who are they to interfere?’: CJI Surya Kant slams Bar Council of India over NALSAR students’ enrolment row | 'Shows how low Congress has sunk': BJP slams Rahul Gandhi over Modi foreign policy jibe | From guns to glamour: Former women Maoists walk the ramp in Chhattisgarh | Netaji row: Suvendu Adhikari govt strips BJP MP Anant Maharaj of state honour | Sukhbir Badal attacked by Nihang Sikh with kirpan at Maharashtra gurdwara; assailant detained | ‘If you cannot do it, we will pass an order’: Supreme Court’s final warning to Centre on food labels | ‘Time to move on’: Bombay HC sends strong message in Vijay Mallya-bank dispute
Rupee
Representational Photo: Unsplash

Rupee crashes to record low of 96.85 against US dollar amid West Asia crisis

| @indiablooms | May 20, 2026, at 02:27 pm

Mumbai/IBNS: Rupee on Wednesday hit a fresh low as the global tension over the West Asia crisis persisted, media reports said.

The Indian currency slumped to an all-time low of 96.85 per US dollar during trading.

Rupee touched 96 per US dollar last Friday.

The Indian rupee has come under intense pressure amid the escalating West Asia conflict, with the currency falling to record lows against the US dollar in recent sessions.

Analysts say rising crude oil prices, foreign investor outflows and global uncertainty are the key reasons behind the sharp weakening.

Why is the rupee weakening?

Rising crude oil prices

India imports a major portion of its crude oil from West Asia. As tensions in the region intensified, global oil prices surged sharply, increasing India’s import bill and demand for dollars.

Higher oil prices generally weaken the rupee because India has to spend more foreign currency on energy imports.

Flight to the US dollar

During geopolitical crises, global investors usually move money toward safer assets such as the US dollar and US Treasury bonds. This has strengthened the dollar globally while putting pressure on emerging market currencies like the rupee.

Foreign investor outflows

Foreign institutional investors have pulled billions of dollars from Indian equities and bonds amid global uncertainty.

The outflows have increased demand for dollars and weakened the rupee further.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.