<h1>Indian Rupee Gains 14 Paise to 86.46 Against USD Amid Strong Equities; Rising Crude Oil Prices Challenge Stability.</h1> The Indian rupee appreciated by 14 paise to 86.46 against the US dollar in early trading, driven by positive trends in domestic equities and Asian currencies. Despite this, elevated Dollar Index levels and rising crude oil prices pose challenges for sustained rupee appreciation. The rupee opened at 86.48 and touched 86.46, gaining over its previous close of 86.60. The dollar index fell by 0.22%, while Brent crude decreased slightly. The Sensex rose by 398.21 points, and the Nifty increased by 105.15 points. Foreign Institutional Investors were net sellers, and India's forex reserves declined by USD 8.714 billion.