The Indian Rupee faced selling pressure on Friday, February 13, 2026, trading near the **90.69** level against the US Dollar. This depreciation marks a shift in sentiment as the greenback gains strength from both geopolitical developments and a broad "risk-off" mood in global markets. Domestic equity markets acted as a primary drag on the currency. The BSE Sensex tumbled over **800 points** to trade around **82,900**, while the Nifty 50 dropped below the **25,600** mark. A massive sell-off in the IT sector, triggered by global concerns over artificial intelligence disruption and valuation repricing, wiped out approximately **₹4 lakh crore** in investor wealth. The US Dollar Index (DXY) showed resilience, hovering around the **97.00** mark. Support for the dollar was bolstered by reports that Russia is considering a return to dollar-based settlements. An internal Kremlin memo suggested a pivot back to the US currency for energy transactions as part of a potential economic partnership, a move that would reverse years of de-dollarization efforts. Emerging market currencies remained under pressure as global investors pivoted toward safe-haven assets. This cautious approach is being driven by uncertainty surrounding upcoming US inflation data and a general softening in global risk appetite. On the domestic front, new economic data provided a mixed cushion. India’s retail inflation for January 2026 was recorded at **2.75%** under a newly overhauled CPI series with a 2024 base year. While this is an increase from previous months, it remains well within the Reserve Bank of India’s tolerance band of **2% to 6%**, offering some fundamental stability despite the external volatility. The outlook for the rupee remains tied to the closing phase of the domestic earnings season and the persistence of Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) flows. While FIIs recently turned net buyers, the sharp decline in tech stocks and firming global bond yields continue to test the currency's resilience.