Rupee gains 20 paise to 93.15 against US dollar in early trade

Vartha Bharati | 15-04-2026 | 11:05:00 IST

Representational image (GEMINI.AI)

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee recovered 20 paise to 93.15 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday, backed by lower levels of crude oil prices and a weak American currency amid hopes of resuming US-Iran peace talks.

Investor sentiment turned positive after US President Donald Trump said that a second round of talks with Iran could be held "over the next two days".

The latest remarks, which came days after the two sides failed to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict in West Asia, led to a sharp decline in crude oil prices, boosting the risk appetite for market participants, forex analysts said.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 93.19 against the US dollar and gained further, trading at 93.15 against the greenback in early deals, up 20 paise from its previous closing level.

On Monday, the rupee weakened by 52 paise to settle at 93.35 against the US dollar. The forex market was closed on Tuesday on account of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was marginally higher by 0.04 per cent at 97.95.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.57 per cent up at USD 95.33 per barrel in futures trade.

On the domestic equity market front, the stock markets witnessed a steep surge in the morning trade. The 30-share Sensex jumped 1162.04 points or 1.51 per cent to 78,009.61, while the Nifty climbed 348.65 points or 1.46 per cent to 24,191.30.

Foreign Institutional Investors were net sellers on Monday and offloaded equities worth Rs 1,983.18 crore, according to exchange data.

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BJP's 'preparation' for Punjab polls has begun: Kejriwal on ED raids against AAP MP Mittal

15-04-2026 ¦ 15-04-2026 IST

PC: AAP leader Ashok Kumar Mittal (ANI)

New Delhi (PTI): As the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids against AAP leader Ashok Kumar Mittal, the party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the BJP has started its "preparations" for the upcoming poll in Punjab by using central agencies.

The ED on Wednesday conducted raids at the business and residential premises of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal in Punjab and Haryana as part of a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), officials said.

In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal said, "Modi ji has started preparations for the elections in Punjab. But, the people of Punjab will not tolerate this... they would give a befitting reply to the BJP."

About 10 locations in Jalandhar and Gurugram are being covered under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). This includes the premises of the Phagwara-based Lovely Professional University (LPU) and two linked educational institutions named Tetr College of Business and Masters Union College of Business located in Gurugram, ED officials said.

Mittal was recently appointed the deputy leader of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha, replacing MP Raghav Chadha. The 61-year-old AAP leader is also the Chancellor of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara.

Reacting to the development, AAP leaders accused the BJP of misusing central agencies ahead of elections.

There was no immediate response from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also strongly condemned the raids, saying the BJP has begun its "preparations" for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state, currently ruled by the AAP.

AAP leader Anurag Dhanda said the action indicates the BJP has begun its poll preparations in Punjab, and questioned whether the party can contest elections without relying on central agencies like the ED and the CBI.

Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia alleged that central agencies are deployed ahead of elections in states, followed by political visits by BJP leaders.

He also criticised the Centre, accusing it of functioning in an authoritarian manner.

Officials, however, said the searches are part of an ongoing FEMA investigation and are being conducted at various premises linked to Mittal's business entities.