Brent unrefined futures advanced 2.54 per cent to $71.44 per barrel.The rupee decreased 14 paise to close at 75.16 (provisional) against the United States dollar, tracking massive sell-offs in domestic equities amidst growing worries over the new COVID variation.
At the interbank forex market, the local unit opened at 74.98 and registered an intra-day high of 74.95 and a low of 75.18 versus the greenback in a unstable trading session.The local unit finally settled at 75.16 a dollar, down 14 paise over its previous close.
The dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of 6 currencies, was trading 0.06 per cent up at 96.21.
On the domestic equity market front, the BSE Sensex ended 764.83 points or 1.31 percent lower at 57,696.46, while the broader NSE Nifty slipped 204.95 points or 1.18 percent to 17,196.70.
The rupee has been under pressure over the last few trading sessions as the detection of the brand-new coronavirus alternative Omicron re-ignited growth issues and injure risk cravings.
Besides, unabated foreign fund outflows weighed on investor beliefs, according to traders.According to exchange data, the foreign institutional investors were net sellers in the capital market on December 2 as they offloaded shares worth Rs 909.71 crore.
Meanwhile, Brent crude futures, the worldwide oil criteria, advanced 2.54 percent to $71.44 per barrel.