In early trading, the rupee was priced at 94.98 against the US dollar, slipping by 5 paise primarily due to high crude oil rates and ongoing geopolitical conflicts. Despite the dollar index facing a slight decline of 0.15 percent, India's forex reserves have seen a downturn, potentially affecting the currency's stability. However, the Reserve Bank of India's timely intervention might bolster the rupee at lower trading levels.