Rupee trades in narrow range against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee traded in a narrow range against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday as the support from fresh foreign fund inflows was negated by trade deal uncertainty and risk-off sentiment.
Forex traders said lack of progress in the India-US trade negotiations and strong dollar demand from corporates and importers weighed on the local unit, even as Brent crude prices hovering near USD 60 per barrel supported investor sentiment.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.35 against the US dollar, then gained some ground and touched 90.32 against the US dollar. In initial trade it also touched 90.38 against the American currency.
ALSO READ:Rupee sees high volatility against US dollar in early trade
On Wednesday, the rupee recovered 55 paise from its all-time low level to close at 90.38 against the greenback.
"The PSU banks were the sellers of dollars on Wednesday on behalf of the RBI. The intervention amount could have been as high as USD 6 billion," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
"We expect the range of 90 to 91.00 on Thursday with 90.25 as support and 90.75 as resistance," Bhansali added.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.05 per cent higher at 98.41.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.67 per cent at USD 60.08 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading 114.06 points lower at 84,445.59, while the Nifty was down 41.10 points at 25,777.45.
Foreign Institutional Investors purchased equities worth Rs 1,171.71 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Ishan Kishan's statement hundred powers Jharkhand to maiden SMAT title
Pune (PTI): Out-of-favour India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan made a compelling case for a T20I recall with a belligerent hundred to power Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title with a 69-run victory over Haryana here on Thursday.
Kishan went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums en route to a breathtaking 49-ball 101, as Jharkhand piled up an imposing 262 for 3.
Jharkhand bowlers, led by medium pacer Anukul Roy, then struck twice in his opening over while his team applied the brakes with regular wickets to bowl out Haryana for 193, despite a fighting half-century from wicketkeeper-batter Yashvardhan Dalal (53).
Roy also also smashed a 20-ball 40.
Jharkhand thus became the 12th state to win the country's premier T20 domestic tournament.
Invited to bat first, the Jharkhand skipper stitched a decisive 177-run partnership for the second wicket with Kumar Kushagra, who played the perfect foil with a rapid 81 off 38 deliveries to keep the pressure firmly on the Haryana bowlers.
The century was Kishan's second of the tournament. The 27-year-old has been in scintillating form throughout the competition and topped the run charts with 517 runs from 10 innings at a staggering strike rate of 197.32.
The left-hander's rich vein of form comes at an opportune time, with the national selectors set to convene soon to pick India's T20I squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup.
Kishan treated the Haryana attack with complete disdain, also striking eight fours, and brought up his hundred with a stylish one-handed six over extra cover.
He was eventually clean bowled by Sumit Kumar in the 15th over, with Kushagra departing in the following over.
Late cameos from Anukul and Robin Minz (31 off 14) ensured Jharkhand finished on a high, posting a total that proved well beyond Haryana's reach.
Haryana batters needed to go hammer and tongs to overhaul the daunting target, but their chase began in disastrous fashion as they lost skipper Ankit Kumar (0) and Ashish Siwach (0) in quick succession to slump to 2/1.
Wicketkeeper-batter Dalal attempted to steady the innings, first adding 34 runs with opener Arsh Ranga (17) and then forging a 67-run partnership with Nishant Sindhu (31).
However, Anukul turned the match decisively in Jharkhand's favour by removing both set batters in the same over, derailing Haryana's chase.
Brief Score:
Jharkhand 262/3 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 101, Kumar Kushagra 89; Sumit Kumar 1/41)
Haryana 193 all out in 18.3 overs (Yashvardhan Dalal 53, Samant Jakhar 38; Sushant Mishra 3/21)
That winning feeling! 🥳
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 18, 2025
Time for celebration in the Jharkhand camp as they win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for the first time 🙌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/3fGWDCTjoo#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/qJB0b2oS0Y
