The Indian rupee continued its downward trend, falling 24 paise to 94.25 against the US dollar during early trading on Friday, marking its fifth consecutive day of losses. This decline is influenced by unstable crude oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz, where US-Iran relations remain strained. Despite a ceasefire between the US and Iran, the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker by the US military has heightened concerns about oil supply disruptions, contributing to fluctuations in global fuel prices. Additionally, foreign fund withdrawals from Indian stock markets have intensified, with Foreign Institutional Investors selling equities worth approximately ₹3,254.71 crore on Thursday. The dollar index, which measures the US dollar's strength against a basket of currencies, rose by 0.12% to 98.71, while Brent crude oil prices increased by 0.86% to USD 105.97 per barrel. The domestic equity markets also faced pressure, with the Sensex and Nifty indices experiencing declines of 0.70% and 0.66%, respectively.