The Indian rupee turned somewhat weak today after climbing to a 19-month high yesterday and depreciated by 6 paise to 44.50 a dollar in early trade in line with the dollar's gain overseas.
Dealers said that firm domestic stock markets, however, prevented any major fall in the rupee.
Dollar's gain overseas and demand for the US currency mainly weighed on the rupee sentiment, they said.
The rupee closed at 44.44/45 a dollar in the previous session, a level last seen on September 4, 2008.
The Bombay Stock Exchange index Sensex rose by 53.21 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 17,988.89 points in the opening trade.