The potential escalation in the Middle East crisis pulled the rupee down to almost four-week low at Rs279.29 against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Tuesday and sent gold to a new record high at Rs249,700 per tola (11.66 grams). According to State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) data, the rupee further depreciated 0.06%, or Rs0.17, and closed at a 26-day low at Rs279.29 against the greenback