<h1>Domestic currency slips to 88.73 per dollar amid crude-led import demand and foreign outflows, prompting regulator monitoring</h1> The domestic currency depreciated 8 paise to 88.73 per US dollar in interbank trading, with an intraday range of 88.64-88.73, pressured by rising crude oil prices and importer dollar demand but partially cushioned by firm equity markets and a softer dollar. Market commentary flagged potential volatility around global events and forecast a near-term trading band of 88.50-89. Concurrent indicators showed a modest decline in the dollar index, higher Brent futures, significant net equity outflows by foreign investors, and a weekly fall in the country's forex reserves by USD 5.623 billion to USD 689.733 billion. From a regulatory perspective under FEMA and central bank mandates, these movements underscore potential risks for balance-of-payments management, the need for continued foreign exchange market monitoring, possible central bank intervention to stabilize liquidity and exchange rates, and compliance scrutiny for cross-border remittances and capital flows.