New Delhi, 23 March (H.S.):

The Indian rupee kept sliding amid ongoing West Asia tensions, smashing a fresh all-time low today as surging crude prices, higher transport costs, a firm dollar and foreign investors dumping Indian stocks added relentless strain.

In the interbank forex market, the rupee hit 93.95 per dollar – its weakest ever – before a slight bounce left it at 93.92 by 10:30 am. It had closed Friday at 93.71.

Trading kicked off weak at 93.83, down 12 paise, briefly easing to 93.79. Then FIIs hit the sell button hard in equities, spiking dollar demand and sending the rupee tumbling to that 93.95 trough.

Rupee weakened against the euro too by morning, down 24.83 paise to 108.47. Against the British pound though, it firmed up 28.99 paise to 125.12 at 10:30 am.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar