Brent crude oil, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was down 1.7% at $50.05 a barrel as a new strain of the novel coronavirus in the United Kingdom triggered concerns over fuel demand recovery.
SoftBank Group was down 1.13 percent at 8,393 yen following reports that it applied for an initial public offering of a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) called SVF Investment to raise up to $525 million.
Even so, the mood could shift quickly, NAB's Catril warned, forecasting that the pound could climb to $1.50 next year if a last-minute Brexit agreement gets done.
Oil prices also sank as the new containment measures hammered expectations for travel over the Christmas period, with the discovery of a mutated and more infectious strain of the coronavirus in Britain also leading several governments to ban flights from the country.
The dollar index recovered on the day and was last up 0.2pc just short of 90, but remained on track for a fall of 1pc over the week. It had reached its lowest in more than two years at 89.723 on Thursday.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures slipped 14 cents or 0.29pc, to $48.22 a barrel at 0757 GMT, while Brent crude futures fell 20 cents, or 0.39pc, to $51.30.
The Russian market will have one eye on Thursday on Putin fielding questions from the media, an annual event, which can last for several hours and is due to begin at 1200 (0900 GMT) in Moscow.
Aiming to build up partnerships overseas to secure imports, Germany approved in June a 9 billion euro strategy to promote hydrogen initiatives at home and globally.
In interbank trading, the price of euro depreciated by 16 paisas and closed at Rs195.72 against the last day’s trading of Rs 194.88, State Bank of Pakistan reported.
Japan has booked a trade surplus of 366.8 billion yen ($3.5 billion) in November, the fifth consecutive monthly surplus, according to data released by the finance ministry before the opening bell, which prompted little reaction from investors.
Ratings agency Moody's warned late on Monday that the reform would be "credit negative" for the sovereign because it would compromise the bank's autonomy.