Mumbai, Jan 8 (PTI) The rupee fell 7 paise to settle at 89.94 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, weighed down by a host of factors, including higher crude oil prices, foreign fund outflows, and a stronger greenback.

The apprehension of any further tariffs by the US and weak sentiments at the domestic equity markets further pressured the local unit, forex traders said.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 89.96 and traded in the range of 89.73 to 90.13. It eventually settled at 89.94 (provisional), down 7 paise from its previous close.

"India faces big trouble on its exports if the US increases tariffs by even 10 bps, as sentimentally it changes from 'the deal in pipeline' to 'back to square one'. RBI shorts in the markets will keep the dollar buying sentiment," Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said.

The rupee is expected in the range of 89.80 to 90.30 on Friday, he said.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.02 per cent higher at 98.70.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.85 per cent higher at USD 60.47 per barrel in futures trade.

On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex tanked 780.18 points to settle at 84,180.9, while the Nifty fell 263.90 points to 25,876.85.

Foreign institutional investors offloaded equities worth Rs 1,527.71 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.

The government, in its latest estimate on Wednesday, projected the country's GDP to grow by 7.4 per cent in the current fiscal year, maintaining its status as the world's fastest-growing major economy despite punitive US tariffs and geopolitical tensions.

The First Advance Estimates released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation put GDP growth in 2025-26 at better than 7.3 per cent, forecast by the RBI and the government's initial projection of 6.3-6.8 per cent. PTI TRB HVA

Rupee falls as higher crude, foreign outflows and tariff fears boost dollar and pressurise markets. Rupee depreciation was driven by higher crude oil prices, foreign portfolio outflows and a stronger US dollar, with market concern over potential US tariff increases amplifying negative sentiment. Traders noted that central bank short positions in markets reinforced dollar buying pressure; the rupee traded in a wide intra day range and was expected to remain within a specified near term band.