Rupee continues to slide, opens 22 paise lower against US dollar

The rupee opened 22 paise lower at 71.82 against the US dollar amid elevated crude oil prices. The domestic unit on Monday plunged 68 paise to 71.60 against the US dollar amid concerns over soaring crude prices following drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities. 

Surging crude oil prices have emerged as major fears for India -- the world's third largest oil importer -- in form of fiscal slippage and inflationary pressure.

The drone attacks on Saturday targeted Abqaiq, the site of the largest oil processing plant run by the Saudi state oil company, Aramco, and the Khurais oilfield.

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