<h1>Rupee drops 15 paise to 86.07 against dollar amid foreign fund outflows and stronger dollar index</h1> The rupee declined 15 paise to close at 86.07 against the US dollar, marking its second consecutive day of losses. The currency weakened due to a stronger dollar index, foreign fund outflows, and volatile crude oil prices. Domestic equity markets experienced selling pressure with the Sensex falling 375 points and Nifty dropping 100 points. Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 1,858 crore on a net basis. The rupee traded between 85.80-86.09 during the session. Market uncertainties stemmed from ongoing trade talks between the countries, with officials meeting in Washington for a four-day bilateral trade agreement discussion. The dollar index rose 0.25 percent to 98.63, while Brent crude remained relatively stable at USD 68.48 per barrel. Treasury experts expect the rupee to trade between 85.75-86.25 in the near term.